Isro staff felicitate Isro chairman-designate K Sivan at the Trivandrum International Airport on the return of... Read More

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the successful launch of PSLV-C40 on Friday, scientists and directors of Isro units here, including Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), are back.

“It is gratifying that PSLV-C40 was successfully launched after the last event of PSLV-C39 marginally went out in the midst due to non-separation of the heat shield that failed to release the satellite in orbit. After that we had a rigorous set of operations to ensure a robust launch and it was resolved for a successful launch now,” Isro chairman Kiran Kumar said.

On his return here after the successful launch, VSSC director and Isro chairman-designate K Sivan said, “All stages were performed well, PSLV-C40 launch was successful. It launched 31 satellites, including three Indian and 28 commercial satellites”. Sivan is set to take charge as the new Isro chairman by next week.

“It was a perfect launch, the analysis was done and all satellites are appropriately placed,” said LPSC director after the successful launch of PSLV-C40.

The next launches are lined up and about 13 launches are planned this year. The first stage of GSLV-MII is already assembled and the preparations are on for its launch. Then another GSLV MK-II is planned to launch Chandrayaan-II moon mission in April. Following that GSLV-MIII launch and then about seven PSLVs.

This PSLV-C40 launched 31 satellites, including 710kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 613kg at lift-off.

The co-passenger satellites include one microsatellite and one nanosatellite from India as well as three microsatellites and 25 nanosatellites from six countries Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, the UK and USA. The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323kg, VSSC scientists said.

