ISRO is going to create history in the field of space research as it will proudly launch PSLV-C37/Cartosat-2 series satellite tomorrow from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This launch is going to be historic due to the unprecedented launch of a record 104 satellites from a single rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
One will be surprised to know that out of 104, a meagre number of three satellites belong to India and the remaining 101 belong to the masters in the field, USA, Germany and many other nations. Earlier, ISRO had successfully attained a record by launching 20 satellites at one go.
The highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37, a record that Russia had achieved in 2014. The US space agency NASA launched 29 from a single rocket, but 104 is too big a number.
ISRO’s Remarkable Feats
India is among the top-notch countries in the world in the field of scientific research and is ranked as one of the top five nations in the field of space exploration. The country has regularly undertaken space missions, including missions to the moon and the famed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). There is nothing to hide about the exploits of ISRO. Notable among them are:
1) Launching Satellite for SAARC Nations
27 satellites, including 11 that facilitate the communication network of the country are operational, establishing India’s progress in the space technology domain. India is likely to take a lead role in launching satellites for the SAARC nations, generating revenue by offering its space facilities for use by other countries.
2) 8 Satellites in a Single Rocket Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C35 (PSLV-C35) has successfully placed eight different satellites in a single rocket mission, including SCATSAT-1 for weather related studies, five foreign satellites and two satellites from Indian academic institutes into orbit.
3) Assisting in Rescue Operations
ISRO’s geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-F05 (GSLV) successfully launched India's weather satellite INSAT-3DR into space. It will provide meteorological services and assist search and rescue operations of security agencies, including all defence forces, the coast guard, and aid the shipping industry.
The ISRO plans to partner with private firms to jointly build a navigation satellite that would be launched by March 2017, allowing the space agency to free its resources to focus on research and deep space missions.
4) India’s Independent Navigation System
ISRO has completed its mission of developing India's independent navigation system by launching Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS-1G), the seventh and final navigation satellite, which will reduce the country's dependence on US Global Positioning System.
5) Mars Orbiter Mission
India is the first Asian country to successfully place a Mars orbiter. It is also the only country in history to do so in first attempt. India became the fourth space agency in the world to send a spacecraft to Mars, only behind United States, Russia, and the European Union, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008.
6) Launching Foreign Satellites
ISRO has till date launched as many as 74 foreign satellites belonging to global customers from 20 countries, including the US, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and UK. All of these have been launched successfully by PSLVs so far, gaining significant expertise in space technologies. In June 2016, India set a record by launching 20 satellites simultaneously.
Benefits from the Launch of PSLV-C37
During the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of a satellite serving the needs of SAARC member nations, part of his neighbourhood-first policy. Although the satellite is intended to serve the SAARC region, Pakistan has opted out of the program, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh have not pledged their commitment.
The proposed satellite enables full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz television (TV), direct-to-home (DTH), very small aperture terminals (VSATs), tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster management support. India is the only country among SAARC nations that has the capability to launch and operate satellites in space.
Probable benefits to ISRO and India with tomorrow’s launch of PSLV-C37 :
- With this launch, ISRO will be able to recover half of the total cost used for the launch of 104 satellites.
- With the launching of commercial satellites for communication, health, atmospheric research etc. in space, India will benefit commercially.
- India will hold a place of strategic importance in space.
- Last but not the least, ISRO will gain supremacy in Asia and the world in the field of space research and advancements.
(The author is a researcher who likes to write on technology-related advancements. He can be reached @itisSK. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)
Also Read: ISRO’s PSLV C-34 Launch Is a Major Landmark: Mission Director
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)