ISRO to launch PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission on Feb 28 from Sriharikota; countdown begins

countdown for launch of PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission commenced on Saturday from Satish Dhawan Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

PSLV-C51 rocket, which is 53rd mission of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), will launch Amazonia-1 of Brazil as primary satellite and 18 co-passenger satellites from Sriharikota, about 100 kms from Chennai, Bengaluru- headquartered Indian Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a <>statement.

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 in launch.

launch is tentatively scheduled at 1024 hours on February 28, subject to wear conditions. countdown began at 0854 hours. "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 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 consortium of three Indian academic institutes and one Satish Dhawan Sat from Kidz India) and 14 from NSIL.

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 five last year, but was postponed a day before blast-off due to technical reasons.

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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.

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.

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(With PTI inputs)