India’s space research organization – ISRO launched multiple satellites in different orbits using a single rocket.
Though it sounds simple, the maneuvering of the launch vehicle is the most complex in the launching procedures. On-board the PSLV-C35 was the SCATSAT-1 weather satellite as the primary payload.
The satellite weighing 371 kg was placed in the 720 km sun synchronous orbit with text book precision.
An hour and five minutes later, the fourth stage would be re-ignited for 20 seconds to give the rocket a boost in speed. 49 minutes later the fourth stage would be re-ignited for a second time, to burn for another 20 seconds.
Following this the secondary payloads would be separated into their designated orbits. This manoeuvring technique has helped ISRO bring down the cost of launching satellites as a single rocket was used for the mission. In the past, two different rockets would have to be launched.
Other than SCATSAT-1, the PSLV-C35 also carried foreign payloads. These are the Algerian satellites – ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B and ALSAT-1N, the Canadian NLS-19 and American Pathfinder-1.
Two more Indian satellites made by IIT-B (Pratham) and PES University Bangalore (PISAT) were also launched using the vehicle.
