India has launched the APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Mission-2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Tamil Nadu. The mission was named in honor of former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who played a key role in India’s space program.
The PSLV-C50 mission carried the EOS-03 satellite, which is a state-of-the-art earth observation satellite that will provide images with a high spatial resolution of up to 10 meters. The satellite is expected to play a crucial role in various applications such as forestry, agriculture, and disaster management.
The launch took place at 5:07 am on February 21, 2023, and was conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The launch was the first for ISRO in 2023, and it marked the 79th mission for PSLV.
The PSLV-C50 rocket, which stood at a height of 44.4 meters, carried the EOS-03 satellite, which weighs around 625 kg. The satellite was placed into orbit 17 minutes and 18 seconds after the launch.
The mission was a success, and the satellite is now in a geostationary transfer orbit. It will now undergo a series of orbit-raising maneuvers to reach its final geostationary orbit.
The launch was witnessed by dignitaries from the government, space industry, and the scientific community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the successful launch and tweeted, “Congratulations to ISRO and our scientists for the successful launch of PSLV-C50. This is yet another milestone in our space program and will contribute to the nation’s development.”
The launch of the PSLV-C50 mission is a significant achievement for ISRO, as it showcases the country’s capability to carry out complex space missions. It also underlines India’s commitment to using space technology for the benefit of its citizens.
ISRO has a busy year ahead, with several missions planned for 2023. These include the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, the Aditya-L1 mission to study the sun, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.