ISRO’s World Record PSLV C37 Launch: Top 10 Facts You Should Know | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

ISRO's historic PSLV C37 launch on February 15, 2017, marked a world record for launching 104 satellites on a single mission. This achievement surpassed Russia's previous record of 37 satellites launched in 2014. The launch vehicle used was the PSLV C37, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Fact 1: 104 Satellites Launched

• ISRO successfully launched 104 satellites on this mission.
• Of these, 3 were Indian satellites, and 101 were foreign satellites.
• Notable foreign clients included the United States (96), Israel, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Fact 2: Nano Satellites Dominated

• Out of the 104 satellites, a remarkable 103 were nano satellites.
• These smaller "nanosatellites" had a combined weight of 664 kilograms.
• The remaining main satellite weighed 714 kilograms and was dedicated to Earth observation.

Fact 3: Key Indian Satellite - CARTOSAT-2

• Among the Indian satellites, the primary one was CARTOSAT-2.
• CARTOSAT-2 possessed the capability to capture high-resolution images.
• It was expected to be utilized for monitoring regional adversaries like Pakistan and China.
• Other Indian satellites on board included INS -1A and INS -1B.

Fact 4: Launch Site - Sriharikota

• The launch occurred from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, approximately 125 km from Chennai.

Fact 5: Swift Deployment - 18 Minutes

• In just 18 minutes after liftoff, all 104 satellites were successfully deployed into space.

Fact 6: India's Growing Role in Space Business

• India's achievement in this record-breaking PSLV launch underscored its emerging role in the multi-billion dollar space market.
• The commercial satellite launch sector was burgeoning, driven by the demand for advanced communication services.

Fact 7: Previous Space Missions

• Prior to this record-setting launch, India had already demonstrated its scientific capabilities with two significant space missions - Chandrayan mission to the moon and Mangalyan mission to Mars.

Fact 8: Upcoming Mars Mission

• India had tentative plans for a second Mars mission in 2021-2022.
• This mission might involve placing a robot on the Martian surface.

Fact 9: Ambitious Missions to Jupiter and Venus

• ISRO was considering future missions to explore planets like Jupiter and Venus, showcasing India's expanding ambitions in space exploration.

Fact 10: Reusable Launch Vehicle

• ISRO was actively developing a Reusable Launch Vehicle, often referred to as India's space shuttle.
• This technology aimed to reduce the cost of access to space.

Conclusion

ISRO's world record PSLV C37 launch was a monumental achievement, symbolizing India's prowess in space technology and its increasing role in the global space industry. The mission's success demonstrated India's potential for future exploration and commercial ventures in space.