Question: Consider the following statements regarding PSLV-C43
- PSLV-C43 has successfully launched the 31 satellites including HysiS.
- This is the 13th flight of core alone version of PSLV.
- This is the 45th flight of PSLV.
Choose the correct of the above statements:
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)All of the above
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C43) has successfully launched 31 satellites including HysiS on 29th November.
- It is the 45th flight of PSLV, and 13th core-alone flight (without boosters).
- This mission consists of HysiS, 1 micro and 29 nano satellites; combined weight of satellites is 641.5 kg.
Hyper Spectral Imaging Spectroscope (HysiS):
- It is an earth observation satellite built around ISRO’S Mini Satellite 2 (IMS-2) bus weighing about 380 kg. The life of the observation satellite is five years.
- The satellite will be put into a polar synchronous orbit, which sets it in motion along the axis that runs along the Earth’s geographic North and South Pole.
- 30 Satellites are one each from Australia, Columbia, Canada, Finland, Malaysia, Netherland and Spain, and 23 from the USA.
- India’s HysiS was launched at an altitude of 636 km while the foreign satellites were launched to an altitude of 504 km.
- It is to study the earth’s surface in both the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Data from the satellite will be used for various applications including agriculture, forestry, soil/geological, environments, coastal zones and inland waters etc.
PSLV:
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is a third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
- It consists of four stages, using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately.
- PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 45 consecutively successful missions by November 2018.
- First PSLV was launched in October 1994. The vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013.
Links:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186015
https://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c43-hysis-mission