The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is set to launch its Earth Observation Satellite-6 (EOS-6) along with eight other customer satellites on PSLV-C54 rocket from Sriharikota on Saturday. Lift-off is scheduled at 11.56 am.
EOS-6, the primary payload, will be first separated into ‘Orbit-1’, and the remaining satellites will be placed in different sun-synchronous orbits based on customer requirements. The earth observation satellite is expected to set up after reaching an altitude of about 742 km about 20 minutes after lift-off.
what is eos-6
EOS-6 is the third generation satellite in the Oceansat series. oceansat series Satellites are used to monitor water bodies and the atmosphere. ISRO launched the first Oceansat in 1999 and then Oceansat-2 in 2009.
EOS-6 will provide continuity services to the Oceansat-2 spacecraft with enhanced payload specifications as well as application areas. The objective of the mission is to ensure data continuity of ocean color and wind vector data to maintain operational applications.
other satellites
The other eight satellites include ISRO Nano Satellite-2 (INS-2B) for Bhutan which will carry two payloads. Developed by Bhutanese scientists, INS-2B is part of ISRO’s move to support space diplomacy.
These include Thybolt – two satellites of Hyderabad-based space start-up Dhruv Space. The Thiebault 1 and 2 satellites will benefit a large number of amateur radio operators around the world. it comes right after skyroot aerospace Successful launch of Vikram-S Rocket last week.
PSLV-C54 will also launch Anand, a hyperspectral imaging satellite from Bengaluru-based startup Pixels. The satellite images can be used to detect insect infestations, map wildfires, and identify soil stress and oil spills, the startup said in a release. Pixel had earlier become the first Indian company to launch a commercial satellite into space by launching ‘Shakuntala’ in April through SpaceX.
The four Astrocast satellites from Switzerland will also rely on ISRO’s primary payloads.
This mission is the 56th flight of PSLV and 24th in its XL configuration.
