ISRO launches PSLV-C47 carrying Cartosat-3 and 13 nanosatellites from Sriharikota

New Delhi : ISRO on Wednesday launched India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) rocket carrying advanced earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 US nanosatellites from Sriharikota.

The 44.4 metre tall, weighing 320 ton PSLV-C47 rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the country’s rocket port at around 9.28 a.m. 

According to ISRO, the 1,625 kg Cartosat-3 is an advanced agile satellite to obtain panchromatic and multispectral imagery with an operational life of five years.

It comes with a capability of taking the sharp images with a ground resolution of 0.25 metre in Panchromatic and 1 metre ground resolution or ground sample distance (GSD) in 4 Band Multispectral modes with a swath of 16 km, said ISRO.

The ISRO also revealed that Cartosat-3 is equipped with several new technologies/elements like highly agile structural platform, payload platform, higher rate data handling and transmission systems, advanced onboard computer and new power electronics, dual gimbal antenna and others.

The sharp satellite images from it could be used for surveillance purposes while ISRO is silent on this aspect.

Other than this, the PSLV also carried 13 nano satellites from the USA for an undisclosed fee to be paid to NewSpace India Ltd - the new commercial arm of ISRO.

About 17 minutes into its flight, the PSLV rocket will first sling into orbit Cartosat-3.

At about a minute later, the first of the 13 US nano satellites will be put into orbit. The final nano satellite will be ejected into its intended orbit at 26 minutes and 50 seconds from the lift-off of the PSLV rocket.

According to ISRO, 12 of the US nano satellites are named as FLOCK-4P are earth observation satellites and the 13th is called MESHBED, a communication test bed satellite.