PSLV-36 blasts off, Isro readies two more launches in January

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Buoyed by the successful launch of the PSLV-C36 on Wednesday morning, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director told TOI it marked the triumph of Isro units' indigenous development and that now the entire team's focus was on two missions in January--the launch of GSLV Mark III and PSLV-C37.
“The launch of PSLV-C36 marks the success of indigenous payloads of Isro units, including the NavIC satellite navigation system, Vikram processor from semi-conductor labs and the indigenous lithium ion battery ,“ VSSC director K Sivan said.
PSLV-C36, the 38th flight of PSLV , blasted off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre and placed a 1,235-kg RESOURCESAT-2A satellite into 817 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).Now, the entire team will be focussed on two missions in January--launch of GSLV-Mk III and PSLV-C37, he said.
“For the launch of GSLV Mark III with indigenous cryogenic engine by January 2017, preparations have begun. It will carry the heavy 3.2-tonne GSAT-19E communication sat ellite from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota,“ he said.
By Wednesday evening, scientists of the VSSC and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) returned here after the launch of PSLV-C36.
LPSC director S Somnath too indicated that the two launches were planned in January . “PSLV-C37, planned for launch next month, will be similar to the PSLV-C36, which was launched on Wednesday , yet the spacecraft will have new configuration. It is planned to carry a cluster of mini-satellites in addition to two major satellites. It will include a combination of domestic and foreign satellites,“ he said after landing at the airport here. The GSLV-Mk III to place the GSAT-19 satellite is also planned for launch next month and it will be the first developmental flight with indigenous technology , he said.
GSAT-19 satellite will em ploy advanced spacecraft technologies, including bus subsystem experiments in electrical propulsion system, indigenous Li-ion battery and indigenous bus bars for power distribution.
The satellite is planned to carry a geostationary radiation spectrometer payload (GRASP) to monitor and study the nature of charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components.