PSLV launches eight satellites

In its longest-ever mission spread over two hours, India’s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV on Monday successfully launched eight satellites, including the country’s SCATSAT-1 and five satellites from other nations, in two different orbits to achieve another milestone.

There were two Fourth Stage Engine restarts for the purpose of injecting the satellites into different orbits.

SCATSAT-1, the 371 kg primary satellite, was first injected in a 730 km Polar Sunsynchronous Orbit (SSO) after 17-odd minutes after the 44.4 metre tall PSLV-C35 lifted off at 9.12 am from the spaceport here.

The rocket then achieved with precision the designated task of injecting the other satellites after over 2 hours and 15 minutes, in a lower polar orbit of 689 km. The total weight of the payloads carried by PSLV in its 15th flight in “XL” configuration was about 675 kg.

Besides SCATSAT-1, the other satellites which were injected in orbit were two Indian university satellites, Pratham and Pisat, three from Algeria— ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B and ALSAT-1N and one each from the US and Canada.