Significance of PSLV-C40 mission

After a lull of over four months, the Indian Space Research Organisation is back in the game as its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) has successfully placed 31 satellites in two different orbits in one of the longest missions. PSLV-C40, in its 42nd flight, placed 31 satellites -- Cartosat-2 Series, Microsat, 28 foreign nanosatellites and an Indian nanosatellite -- in orbits. The foreign nanosatellites are from the US, France, Finland, the UK, South Korea and Canada.

Application of Cartosat-2:
The main payload Cartosat-2 Series satellite will provide regular remote sensing services using its panchromatic and multispectral cameras. The images sent by the satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps, change detection to bring out geographical and man-made features and various other land information system (LIS) as well as geographical information system (GIS) applications.

Application of Microsat:
The Indian microsatellite will demonstrate a new technology which will allow capturing of images at night and will also provide high resolution scene specific spot imageries.

Significance:
The launch was significant for following reasons –

• Isro demonstrated multiple-burn technology that it tested in three previous launches. Placing satellites in different orbits through a single rocket will save money and help launch more commercial satellites.
• The space agency also placed the 100th satellite it has built in its laboratory (Marks the maiden century of Indian satellites)
• Two Indian satellites in the payload were called technology demonstrators, indicating significant strides towards miniaturisation. The microsatellite is of the 100 kg class. This is a technology demonstrator and the forerunner for future satellites of this series. The nanosatellite, named Indian Nano Satellite (INS) - 1C, is the third in its series; its predecessors were part of the PSLV-C37 launch of February 2017. The INS-1C, whose mission life is six months, carries the Miniature Multispectral Technology Demonstration payload from the Space Applications Centre.
• This is the space agency's first mission in 2018, and its first since the unsuccessful launch of IRNSS-1H in August last year. PSLV-C39, which lifted off on August 31 last year, failed after the heat shield, the tip of the rocket, did not open as programmed.

Objection by Pakistan:
Pakistan has raised objections over the launch of the satellite and said that its dual nature, military as well as civilian, of the satellite can have a "negative impact on the regional strategic stability".

Conclusion:
India will use the information gathered from this, and other Cartosat satellites, to meet a broad range of needs on the sub-continent. Indeed, not only has the Cartosat series allowed the country to address the needs of a growing India; it has been able to do so with a significant cost savings. Prior to having their own stable of Earth observing satellites, India used to pay $20 per square kilometer for imaging from Ikonos. The Cartosat program, in comparison, has lead to a 20-fold reduction of imaging costs for the country.

The launch of the 100th satellite by ISRO signifies both its glorious achievements, and also the bright future of India’s space programme. 2018 is likely to be ISRO’s most ambitious year yet. India’s space programme has said it plans to launch one rocket every month this year, and it’s also aiming for the moon once again: The second unmanned moon mission, Chandrayaan 2, is set for a March launch.

By: Dr. Vivek Rana