ISRO to launch DRDO’s Microsat R, Kalamsat on board the PSLV-C44 today

New Delhi, Jan 24: The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, will launch a students satellite Kalamsat and an imaging satellite Microsat-R, today from from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch mission PSLV-C44 won't just launch a satellite but will be the first in the world to use the rocket as a platform for experiments in space as well.

The PSLV-C44 is a four-stage launch vehicle which features alternating solid and liquid stages along with two strap-on configuration while it has been named PSLV-DL for the said mission.

"The PSLV with 2 strap-on configuration has been identified for this mission and the configuration is designated as PSLV-DL. PSLV-C44 is the first mission of PSLV-DL and is a new variant of PSLV," said ISRO in a statement.

Details about Kamalsat created by students:

• Kalamsat is a communication satellite with a life span of two months
• The nanosatellite is a 10cm cube weighing 1.2 kg
• The satellite cost was about Rs 12 lakh
• Kalamsat will be the first to use the rocket's fourth stage as an orbital platform. The fourth stage will be moved to higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments
• It is named after former Indian president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and was built by an Indian high school student team, led by Rifath Sharook, an 18-year-old from the Tamil Nadu town of Pallapatti
• It is the world's lightest and first ever 3D-printed satellite

The speciality of today's launch would be the rocket's configuration and its multiple utility. This is the first time the launch vehicle would have a flight with just two strap-on motors, called the DL mode.

Another special feature of the PSLV C44 is that its fourth and final fuel stage would play an additional role.

After hurling the two payloads into the planned orbits, it will travel further into a circular orbit and provide an innovative platform for carrying out experiments in space. It serves as an example of India's continued innovations in space technology.