ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C51; Brazil's Amazonia-1 satellite injected into orbit

Update: PSLV-C51 has taken off successfully and Amazonia satellite has been injected into orbit

Indian Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 from Satish Dhawan Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday at around 10:24 am. Along with Amazonia-1, 18 or co-passenger satellites will also be onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51). countdown for launch had begun on Saturday. It is important to te here that this will be ISRO's first mission of year 2021. 

READ | ISRO To Launch PSLV-C51 On February 28 With 1 Brazil & 20 Indian Satellites Onboard

Where to watch launch of Amazonia-1

According to ISRO, people can watch live launch of India's PSLV-C51 carrying Amazonia-1 and 18 Co-passenger satellites on organisation's . live streaming of launch will begin at 9:50 am and will continue until launch is successfully completed. 

First dedicated commercial mission of NSIL

According to PTI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's engraved picture on a co-passenger satellite and sending Bhagavad Gita on-board in electronic format are some of table aspects of launch. "PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is first dedicated commercial mission of New India Limited (NSIL)," ISRO's commercial arm, statement said. NSIL is undertaking this mission under a commercial arrangement with Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and mission manment provider, flight Inc.

Amazonia-1 is optical earth observation satellite of Brazil's National Institute for Research (INPE). "This satellite would furr strengn existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across Brazilian territory", statement said.

18 co-passenger satellites include four from Indian National Promotion and Authorisation Centre (three UNITYsats from a consortium of three Indian academic institutes and one Satish Dhawan Sat from Kidz India) and 14 from NSIL.

READ | ISRO To Launch PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 Mission On Feb 28 From Sriharikota; Countdown Begins

ISRO lining up launch of India's geo imaging satellite

Meanwhile, ISRO is lining up launch of its geo imaging satellite GISAT-1 close on heels of February 28 PSLV- C51 mission. launch of GISAT-1 onboard GSLV-F10 rocket was originally planned for March 5 last year but was postponed a day before blast-off due to technical reasons.

Secretary in Department of and ISRO Chairman K Sivan told PTI that technical issues have been resolved and delay in launch was due to COVID-19-induced lockdown which affected rmal work.

READ | ISRO Gears Up To Launch Its New-generation Mini Rocket On Maiden Flight

Sources in Bengaluru-headquartered ncy said ISRO is w looking at March-end-early-April timeframe for mission from Sriharikota port, about 100 km from Chennai. According to ISRO, GISAT-1 will facilitate near real-time observation of Indian sub-continent, under cloud-free condition, at frequent intervals.

Geosynchrous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10) will launch GISAT-1 from Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Weighing about 2268kg, GISAT-1 is first state-of--art agile earth observation satellite that will be placed in a Geosynchrous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10, according to ISRO officials.

"Subsequently, satellite will reach final geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system", ISRO had said a few days before planned launch in March last year.

READ | ISRO Completes Launch Rehearsal Of PSLV-C51 Mission, Two Satellites Drop Out