ISRO’s PSLV-C50 rocket has successfully placed the communication satellite CMS-01 into orbit.
What is the key information about PSLV-50?
It is the 42nd communication satellite of the space agency.
PSLV-C50 is the 22nd flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration.
It was the 77th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota, about 120 km from Chennai.
According to ISRO, the satellite has a life span of seven years.
The communication satellite is envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum covering India, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India.
It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
It was first successfully launched in October 1994.
The vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013.
It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
PSLV has also been used to launch various satellites into Geosynchronous and Geostationary orbits with Payload up to 1,425 kg.
PSLV uses 6 solid rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust.
It has four stages system comprising: liquid-Solid-liquid-Solid stages.
