ISRO launches Brazilian satellite today

Bengaluru, February 27

An Indian rocket will launch a Brazilian satellite for the first time from Sriharikota spaceport on Sunday, the mission being Indian Space Research Organisation’s first in 2021.

Subject to weather conditions, the blastoff is scheduled at 10.24 hours from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

PSLV-C51 rocket, the 53rd mission of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), will launch Amazonia-1 of Brazil as primary satellite and 18 co-passenger payloads from the first launch pad of the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district.

These co-passenger satellites include Satish Dhawan Sat (SD SAT) from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI). A picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been engraved on the top panel of this spacecraft.

“This is to show solidarity and gratitude for his (PM’s) Aatmanirbhar initiative and space privatisation,” said SKI, adding it would also send 25,000 names on board SD SAT. It’s also a big day for Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited. PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NSIL, which is undertaking it under an arrangement with Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc. — PTI 

First mission of the year

637 kg the Brazilian satellite weighs

10.24 hours blastoff time

18 co-passenger payloads to take-off too

Digital Gita, Modi pic to go into space

• Co-passenger satellites include Satish Dhawan Sat from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI)
• It has a picture of PM Modi engraved on the spacecraft panel as a mark of gratitude for the PM’s Aatmanirbhar initiative
• The SKI is also sending up Bhagavad Gita in SD (secured digital) card