ISRO launches Cartosat-3 and 13 US satellites in 27 minutes

Prabhjote Gill         

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) just launched 14 satellites into space in 27 minutes.
• This includes the Cartosat-3 satellite, which will add to India’s earth observation capabilities.
• The massive 44.4-meter tall rocket with a lift-off mass of 321 tonnes, took off from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 9:28 am.
• India just launched its new earth observation satellite, Cartosat-3, and 13 US satellites into Earth’s orbit in just under 27 minutes.
• “Cartosat-3 is the Highest resolution civilian Indian spacecraft. It is also the most complex and advanced earth observation satellite that ISRO has built so far,” said ISRO chairman K Sivan after the launch.
  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) assembled the PSLV-C47 rocket in 5 segments, each weighing 45 to 50 tonnes, before catapulting it into space from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
  The massive 44.4-meter tall rocket with a lift-off mass of 321 tonnes, heaved took from the Second Launch Pad at 9:28 am.
  At lift-off time, the weather was a little cloudy, wind speeds benign indicating good conditions for the launch, according to the ISRO announcer.
• The launch
  The first stage of the launch was initiated as the first of the four engines, PS 1, was ignited.
  At 37 kilometers of altitude, the four groundless rockets burnt out in 92 seconds and separated from the main vehicle.
  After 113.2 seconds, the second stage of the launch was initiated at 115 kilometers. At 161.1 seconds the launch vehicle entered closed-loop guidance, which means that the vehicle was now deciding its future functions by comparing its current location to the target conditions.