ISRO launches CARTOSAT-3 and13 nano-satellites
ISRO has successfully launched CARTOSAT 3 and 13 American nano-satellites on PSLV-C47 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota Andhra Pradesh. According to sources previously India’s PSLV has put 297 foreign satellites into the orbit, with these 13 American nano-satellites launch the count has now reached to 310.
CARTOSAT 3 is a satellite developed by ISRO for advanced Indian Earth observation. It has the capability of taking clear and sharp pictures with a ground resolution of 0.25 metre in panchromatic and 1- metre ground resolution in 4 Band multispectral modes with a 16 km swath. These pictures are helpful for infrastructure planning, coastal land use and land cover, road-network monitoring and more importantly for strategic/defence purposes. CARTSOSAT 3 has many advanced elements like higher rate data handling and transmission systems, advanced onboard computer and new power electronics, highly agile structural platform, dual gimbal antenna and many others. According to ISRO, 12 of the US nano-satellites, called FLOCK-4P, are satellites for earth observation. The 13th satellite is called the MESHBED, the satellite for the communication test-bed.
Approximately 17 minutes into the flight, the rocket launches CARTOSAT 3 into an orbit of 509 km at an inclination of 97.5 degrees. The first US nano-satellites will be placed in orbit soon thereafter. Approximately 27 minutes from the racket lift the final nano-satellite will be ejected into its intended orbit.
The New Space India Limited only established in March 2019 with a business plan almost similar to that of Antrix Corporation, the Indian Space Research Organization’s first business arm (ISRO), surprisingly came in order to launch the American satellites. Besides the above business lines, NewSpace India will also be the key production agency for PSLV and SSLV through industry consortia and partners.