THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s successful mission of PSLV-C34 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota on Wednesday that placed all the 20 satellites at one go, the heads of ISRO units including SDSC and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) indicate that the entire team is now focussed on their next mission of PSLV-C35 launch planned for August.

"A review meet will be convened by ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar soon to finalise on further missions including GSLV-Mark III and the demo project of Air Breathing Propulsion System (ABPS) for advanced space missions. Now with this milestone of 20 satellites launch in a single mission and its successful restart exercise of the fourth-stage engine PS4, it offers the required start for the next mission of PSLV-C35 planned in August first week for launch of two satellites in different orbits," SDSC director P Kunhikrishnan told TOI.

Strikingly, VSSC director K Sivan told TOI that, "all the 20 satellites injected into the orbit on board PSLV-C34 are being tracked and are in control. The rocket's fourth stage PS4 propellant engine demonstrated two complex tasks, 50 minutes after the satellites were injected into the orbit. The engine was cut off for 30 seconds and then re-ignited. It offers more poise for the next mission of PSLV- C35 to launch satellites in two different orbits".

Air-Breathing Propulsion System (ABPS) which is planned for advanced space launches including next Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) uses atmospheric air as oxidiser for combustion with vehicle fuel to propel the rocket. This can bring down space travel cost by 1/10th and eventually 1/100th, VSSC scientists said.

As the project director of 13 previous PSLV missions from C-15 to C-27, Kunhikrishnan said that the launch vehicle PSLV is highly reliable, versatile and has set an excellent track record, that it satisfies the customers from across the world.

Hailing the efforts of ISRO in their successful PSLV-C34 mission, Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan in his statement said it is a path-breaking venture in India's space mission. In space launch technology, it was possible for ISRO to win over major space faring nations including the US. Braving challenges of US sanctions, India has developed indigenous cryogenic technology, he said. Now, ISRO is on track to develop the advanced GSLV-Mark III and with its recent launch of IRNSS satellites, the country has also gained indigenous capability in global positioning system. He also wished the ISRO team all success in future endeavours.



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