India’s ISRO is Preparing for the Launch of PSLV-C56 with Six Co-passenger Satellites on July 30

By Sophia Francise

July 24, 2023

The Indian space agency is preparing for the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) mission on July 30, 2023.

The PSLV-C56 will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the first launch pad of SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, carrying the DS-SAR satellite and six co-passengers into a Near-equatorial Orbit (NEO).

The DS-SAR satellite will be joined on this forthcoming space mission by co-passenger spacecrafts from Singapore-based organizations, including Velox-AM, Arcade, SCOOB-II from NTUsg, NuLIoN from NuSpace Pte. Ltd., Galassia-2 from Singapore, and ORB-12 Strider from Aliena Pte. Ltd.

The PSLV-C56 is following up after the illustrious legacy of Chandaryaan, which launched its third spacecraft in mid-July.

The PSLV-C56: DS-SAR Satellite Mission Launch

PSLV-C56, similar to its predecessor C55, is configured in its core-alone mode.

Its primary payload will be the 360 kg satellite, DS-SAR, which will launch into a Near-equatorial Orbit (NEO) at 5 degrees inclination and 535 km altitude.

The PSLV-C56 mission was initially scheduled to launch on July 26, but the date has been further moved, and the mission will now launch into space on July 30, 2023.

The development of the DS-SAR satellite was a partnership between Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. 

DS-SAR carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).[1] 

As a result, the DS-SAR can provide coverage in all weather situations, day and night, and can image with a one-meter resolution when employing full polarimetry.

Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore

On the other hand, ST Engineering will use it for their commercial customers’ multi-modal and higher responsiveness imagery and geospatial services.

Who are the Co-passengers?

Accompanying the DS-SAR are six co-passenger satellites:

  • VELOX-AM: A 23 kg technology demonstration microsatellite
  • Galassia-2: A 3U nanosatellite that will be orbiting at low earth orbit
  • SCOOB-II: A 3U nanosatellite flying a technology demonstrator payload
  • ORB-12 STRIDER: A satellite is developed under an International collaboration.
  • ARCADE Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE): an experimental satellite.
  • NuLIoN by NuSpace: An advanced 3U nanosatellite enabling seamless IoT connectivity in both urban & remote locations.

References

  1. ISRO, ‘PSLV-C56/DS-SAR Mission’, 21 July 2023, https://www.isro.gov.in/PSLVC56_DS_SAR_Mission.html[]
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