THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after the successful launch of PSLV-C38 on Friday at 9.29 am, the Isro team, including scientists from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), returned here the same day evening. The scientists led by VSSC director K Sivan indicate that the focus will be on the launch of the next PSLV-C 39 in August first week.

Ahead of the next PSLV-C39 launch to place a navigational satellite in orbit, it is planned to launch a communication satellite GSAT-17 from French Guiana this June 28, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar told TOI .

“Among the two more PSLV launches planned this year include PSLV-C39 by August first week. Then GSLV-Mk II launch is planned by December and GSLV-MK III by early next year. It is also planned to launch one more communication satellite GSAT-11 from French Guiana in December this year,” he said.

On the reason to launch Indian satellites from France despite ISRO’s prowess, he said though it is expensive to launch our satellites from other countries, it would take some more time to launch heavy satellites weighing over 3.2 ton that too soon after the recent launch of 104 satellites on board PSLV-C37 this Feb 15. The launch of GSAT satellites from French Guiana was slated earlier, he said. The 3425 kg GSAT-17 and 5725 kg GSAT-11 are communication satellites expected to boost internet services of digital India.

On the success of PSLV-C38 mission, he said all the 31 satellites separated successfully including the first satellite Cartosat-2 series at 505 km sun synchronous orbit in 16 mins 43 seconds after lift-off and the last satellite was injected into orbit in 23 minutes.

After three stages of the launch vehicle burn out that falls into the sea, in the fourth stage of the launch vehicle at 505 km it placed the satellite into orbit. Then the vehicle continues to orbit around the earth, so to bring down at a lower orbit of 350 km, it is controlled by two retro-booster firings for restarts. Third re-start of the fourth stage of the vehicle will be controlled tonight to bring down the orbital velocity and change its inclination with respect to the equator, so that launch vehicle which is of no utility value is burnt out neutralising the fuel left out, Isro chairman Kiran Kumar said.

“It was a 100 percent successful launch of PSLV-C38 in placing the 31 satellites including 29 satellites from other countries.” VSSC director K Sivan told TOI on Friday. Now, the focus is on the next PSLV-C39 launch in August first week to place the navigational satellite IRNSS-1H in orbit, he said.

While, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S Somnath said the Cartosat-2E is the third satellite of the Cartosat-2 series. With this launch, Cartosat-2 series constellation is complete. It is intended for fast, repetitive earth observation, cartography or mapping and information dissemination. Further, the focus is to launch the navigational satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLV-C39.

