In news
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its 42nd communication satellite CMS-01 on PSLV-C50
Highlights
- The CMS-01 satellite will be the first in a new series of communication satellites that India will be launching after the GSAT and INSAT series.
- The first satellite by a start-up called Pixxel India called Anand which is an Earth Observation Satellite will be launched on PSLV C51.
- Along with Anand, two more satellites under the space reform are going to be launched – one by Space Kidz India and another by a university consortium called UnitySat.
The payload: CMS-01
CMS-01 is the 42nd communication satellite from India and weighs around 1,410 kgs.
It will be replacing the ageing GSAT-12 satellite that was launched 15 July 2011 and was supposed to serve for seven years.
The CMS-01 will provide telecom services in the Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum.
The PSLV-C50 rocket
- The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is ISRO's workhorse rocket. This will be the 22nd flight of the PSLV rocket in the 'XL' configuration, and the 52nd PSLV flight.
- The PSLV is 44-metre-high and has four stages with six strap-on booster motors on to the first stage that gives it's a higher thrust during the initial flight moments.
- As the PSLV is not a reusable rocket, the first stage won't be reclaimed and it will crash into the Indian Ocean.
Source: The Hindu
