ISRO creates waves with successful launch of PSLV-C9

Sriharikota, Apr 28 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today created waves with the launch of the PSLV-C9, the 13th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), putting as many as ten satellites into the orbit.

After a perfect launch at 0923 hrs from the world class second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at SHAR, PSLV-C9 surged into the space and completed its mission, injecting all ten satellites in the intended orbit with text-book precision.

''It's really a memorable and historic moment. The mission was perfect and for the first time, ten satellites were launched within one mission,'' a jubilant ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair announced amid huge applause at the Mission Control Centre adding that it was PSLV's 12th successful mission in a row.

''We have shown to the world, India is capable of launching multiple satellites in single mission'', he said adding that the scientists had very anxious moments last night following formation of a system (low pressure) in the Bay of Bengal and decided to go ahead with the launch only at the eleventh hour as weather conditions tried to play spoilsport.

India has become the second country after Ukraine to launch ten or more satellies in single mission.

It was an awesome sight as the 44 m-tall humongous four-stage vehicle, sporting the logo of Indian tricolour at the cone-shaped tip, roared into the skies, spitting orange flames and leaving a trail of smoke with a rumble that shook the earth.

After the text-book precision lift off, the flight was flawless as it injected the main payload -- 690 kg Indian Remote Sensing Satellite CARTOSAT-2A into the 635 km intended orbit, inclined at an angle of 97.94 degrees to the equator, 885 seconds after the PSLV-C9 lift off from the sophisticated Second Launch Pad at 0923 hrs, amid cheers from the scientists at the Mission Control Centre (MCC).

Forty-five seconds later, the core alone PSLV-C9, minus the six strap-on motors, was also placed in the intended orbit IMS-1. All the eight nano satellites from abroad were also placed in the orbit in the set sequence. The entire process lasted 1440 seconds or 24 minutes.

The scientists, led by Mr Nair, gathered at the Mission Control Centre waited in bated breath as the fourth stage began its crucial work after achieving 633 km orbit. They burst into a huge applause after it was announced the ''total mission has been completed.'' The families of ISRO employees had also gathered in large numbers to witness the historic launch.

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