Countdown begins for one of PSLV rocket’s longest missions says, ISRO

TIL Desk/National/Sriharikota/ The countdown for India’s one of the longest rocketing by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket carrying 19 satellites began at 8.54 a.m. on Saturday, said a top official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The Indian rocket numbered PSLV-C51 carrying the 637-kg Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites (including 13 from USA) is scheduled to lift-off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 10.24 a.m. on Sunday.

“The countdown for the rocket’s flight started at 8.54 a.m for the launch at 10.24 a.m tomorrow (Sunday),” K.Sivan, ISRO Chairman told. India’s first space mission for 2021 is one of the longest for a PSLV rocket is expected to conclude 1 hour, 55 minutes and 7 seconds into its flight.

If all goes well with the Sunday morning rocketing of PSLV-C51 then India would have slung a total of 342 foreign satellites, all for a fee. The rocketing is a fully commercial one of NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) with the primary passenger being the Amazonia-1 satellite.