NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will carry along as many as 14 small foreign satellites, in its next three PSLV’s (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles) over the next two months, reliable sources close to ISRO confirmed today.
The 14 small satellites belong to four international customers, added the sources.
So far, the PSLV has launched around 300, mostly small (1kg-100kg) satellites, to low-earth orbits for many foreign customers.
The three PSLV flights — PSLV-C47, PSLV-C48 and PSLV-C49 — would be sent in Nov and Dec. All these launch vehicles will carry one main payload of India, which are basically earth observation satellites, besides the 14 foreign satellites.
According to an English daily, the 14 small foreign satellites would be accommodated as “minor secondary passengers” on the PSLV flights. The U.S. company “Spaceflight” arranges such flights for agencies seeking to put their spacecraft into orbits.
It also quoted Spaceflight’s CEO and president, Curt Blake, as saying, “The PSLV continues to be a reliable launch partner for us. By the end of 2019, we will have executed 11 launches on PSLV’s and sent more than 100 satellites into orbit on this vehicle.”– NNN-PTI