ISRO PSLV-C55 launches two Singapore satellites into orbit

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ISRO PSLV-C55 launches two Singapore satellites into orbit (image: Twitter/isro)
ISRO PSLV-C55 launches two Singapore satellites into orbit (image: Twitter/isro)

New Delhi : Two Singapore satellites have been successfully placed into their intended orbits by ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C55 on Saturday. The satellites were ordered by NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. The rocket, which stood at a height of 44.4 meters, launched at 2:19 pm as planned, after a 22.5-hour countdown, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

TeLEOS-2, a Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, is the main satellite of the mission, accompanied by Lumelite-4, a nano-satellite for technology demonstration purposes. This marks the 57th PSLV flight and the 16th mission to employ the PSLV Core Alone configuration (PSLV-CA).

ISRO Chairperson S. Somnath extended congratulations to PSLV and NSIL for their successful launch, and he also mentioned that there are some "interesting things" in store for the near future. Speaking from the Mission Control Center, he stated that the PSLV had demonstrated its high reliability and its suitability for commercial missions of this kind in its 57th mission.

With only three failures or partial failures since 1993, the PSLV is considered one of the most dependable vehicles in ISRO's fleet, having launched numerous satellites. Over time, it has undergone various enhancements, resulting in its reputation as a top-tier satellite carrier.

Traditionally, launch vehicles are designed to deliver satellites into space, with no further use. As a result, they contribute to the problem of space debris, either burning up or adding to it. However, the PSLV has advanced technologically, with a component capable of conducting research in space after its satellite delivery. This feature is exemplified by the current mission's POEM-2, or PSLV Orbital Experimental Module.