Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C55 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on Saturday, delivering two Singaporean Earth observation satellites into orbit. ISRO Chief S. Somanath said: “Congratulations on the PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission – the PSLV placed both satellites in the intended orbit.”
The launch was completed at 2:19 p.m. IST, ISRO said.
While the POEM is being written,
here are first 📸… pic.twitter.com/cfoxt7Op8I— ISRO (@isro) April 22, 2023
Speaking about the launch, he said that the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle had once again demonstrated its reliability and suitability for commercial launch on its 57th flight.
“This was an eastbound mission. And the tilt is 9.9 degrees, very precise. On its 57th flight, PSLV once again demonstrated its high reliability and suitability for commercial missions of this class,” said the ISRO boss.
“This is the fifth launch in this edition. This rocket launch will be carried out with eight small payloads and we have prayed for the success of this launch,” the ISRO chairman said Friday while visiting the Chengalamma Temple of the Goddesses in the town of Sullurpeta in Tirupati district
This launch is also significant for the Indian startup ecosystem in space as NSIL (NewSpace India Limited) dedicated commercial rocket carried the two Singapore satellites as main payloads and seven non-separable payloads from ISRO, Indian Institute of Astrophysics and startups Bellatrix and dhruva space.
The special commercial mission was conducted by NSIL using TeLEOS-2 as the primary satellite and Lumelite-4 as the passenger satellite. Both satellites, owned by Singapore, weigh about 741 kg and 16 kg respectively and are scheduled to be placed in low-tilt eastward orbit, ISRO said.
The TeLEOS-2 satellite is being developed through a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once installed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Singapore government. TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. TeLEOS-2 will provide all-weather day and night coverage and will be able to capture images with a full polarimetric resolution of 1m.
The LUMELITE-4 satellite, jointly developed by A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research and the National University of Singapore’s Satellite Technology and Research Center (STAR).
LUMELITE4 is an advanced 12U satellite designed for the technological demonstration of the spaceborne high performance VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). Using the VDES communication payload, it aims to increase Singapore’s e-navigation maritime safety and benefit the global shipping community.
The mission features the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), which uses the spent PS4 stage of the launch vehicle as an orbital platform to conduct scientific experiments through non-separating payloads. The payloads belong to ISRO/Department of Space, Bellatrix, Dhruva Space and Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO explained.
