ISRO to launch defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March

CHENNAI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan on Wednesday said that the Bengaluru-based space agency is set to launch an electronic intelligence satellite Emisat for the DRDO in March.

Sivan added that ISRO will also launch 28 third-party satellites and demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in March. He, however, did not give a specific date.

"It is a special mission for us. We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors. Further, for the first time we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes," K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.

"The main passenger for the PSLV rocket will be the defence intelligence satellite Emisat belonging to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The satellite weighs about 420 kg. The 28 satellites belonging to our customers would cumulatively weigh about 250 kg," Sivan added.

The ISRO chief said that Emisat is an electronic intelligence satellite. It is to be noted that ISRO is also gearing up to launch two more defence satellites in July/August. The space agency will use its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for launching these defence satellites.

It may be recalled a defence imaging satellite Microsat R was launched by ISRO for the DRDO in January.

Providing more details about Emisat, Sivan said that after launching this satellite at an altitude of 763 km, the rocket will be brought down to place the 28 satellites at an altitude of 504 km.

"Following that the rocket will be brought down further to 485 km where the fourth stage will turn into a payload platform carrying three experimental payloads -- one developed by the students of Indian Institute of Space Science and Tecnology, besides ISRO`s own technology demonstrator and a Hamsat," Sivan said.

PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. On January 24, the ISRO flew a PSLV with two strap-on motors.

(with IANS inputs)