Chandrayaan-2: A glance at Indian Space Research Organisation major achievements

 | Updated: Jul 14, 2019, 05:19 PM IST

As ISRO is all geared up to launch its second lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-2, here is a look at its biggest achievements over the last ten years. 

PSLV-C46 Mission

India’s PSLV-C46 successfully launched RISAT-2B satellite on May 22, 2019 from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

PSLV-C46 lifted-off at 05:30 a.m; In this mission, RISAT-2B was injected into an orbit of 555 km at an inclination of 37 degrees to the equator about 15 minutes and 30 seconds after lift-off. 

The satellite is intended to provide services to Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management domains.

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

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GSAT-31

India’s telecommunication satellite, GSAT-31 was successfully launched on February 06, 2019 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-247.

GSAT-31 is configured on ISRO’s enhanced I-2K Bus, utilising the maximum bus capabilities of this type. This satellite is expected to augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.

Weighing about 2536 kg, GSAT-31 is aimed to provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.

It is basically launched to provide Indian mainland and island coverage.

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

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GSAT-11 Mission

Weighing about 5854 kg, the heaviest satellite built by ISRO, GSAT-11 was successfully launched on December 05, 2018 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-246. 

It is the fore-runner in the series of advanced communication satellites with multi-spot beam antenna coverage over the Indian mainland and Islands.

GSAT-11 is focused to play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country and is also aimed at providing a platform to demonstrate new generation applications.

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

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PSLV-C37, Cartosat -2 Series Satellite

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its thirty-ninth flight (PSLV-C37), launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 103 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 663 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). 

PSLV-C37 was launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. This was the sixteenth flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors).

The co-passenger satellites comprised of 101 nano satellites, one each from Kazakhstan, Israel, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 96 from United States of America (USA), as well as two Nano satellites from India. The total weight of all these satellites carried on-board PSLV-C37 was about 1377 kg.

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

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GSLV-D6

GSLV-D6 which was launched from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota, placing GSAT-6 into a GTO on August 27, 2015 is the ninth flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

It is also the fifth developmental flight of GSLV. GSLV-D6 flight is significant since it intends to continue the testing of CUS. GSLV is designed to inject 2 ton class of communication satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). 

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

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India's second lunar exploration mission

Just five days before the 50th anniversary of man's first lunar landing, Chandrayaan-2 or Moon Chariot 2 will blast off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh state on July 15 at 2.51 am after a decade-long build-up.

The mission will also highlight how far space travel has advanced since Neil Armstrong's giant leap for mankind during the Apollo 11 mission.

(Image Courtesy: www.isro.gov.in)

 

(Photograph:Others)