India’s low-budget space programme grabbed global attention in 2013, with the successful launch of its Mars Orbiter Mission on its first attempt. While the Hubble space telescope is still working now, Astrosat’s life span is five years.
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In yet another sign of how rapidly India’s space program has progressed, ISRO today successfully launched ASTOSAT, India’s first Multi Wavelength Space Observatory. The satellite can perform simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects. “This is particularly important for neutron stars (the densest and smallest stars in the universe) and black holes”, said Professor Dipankar Bhattacharya at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, who was involved in the project.
“We can write our research proposals for UV and X-ray astronomy directly to ASTROSAT” without having to depend on observatories overseas, he says.
According to ISRO, after injection into Orbit, the two solar panels of ASTROSAT will automatically deployed in quick succession. The pictures sent by MOM are used by students and scientists in various research activities. ISRO said in a statement.
The PSLV will also carry a Canadian and an Indonesian small earth observing satellite as a piggyback payload.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C30 is carrying Astrosat along with six other co-passengers, one satellite each from Indonesia and Canada, and four nano-satellites from the US. “All of us must be proud to see PSLV has established its prominent presence in the global space market”, he added. This will be the 31st flight with 30 successes in its belt, for the light-lift workhorse of PSLV vehicle.
The 1,513 kg-weighing cuboid-shaped satellite would be eventually fine-tuned into 650 km above the Earth’s surface.
Soon after, six other satellites were also put into orbit and the whole mission ended in just over 25 minutes. ASTROSAT will uplift ISRO to exclusive club of nations that have space-based observatories like United States, European Space Agency, Japan and Russian Federation, as reported byBusiness Standard.
The payloads will start working on 5 October – the eighth day of the launch.
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“I congratulate the entire ISRO community for the wonderful job they have done”, he said addressing the gathering at the Mission Control Centre.
