7 Singapore satellites, including the primary satellite DS-SAR and 6 co-passenger satellites, were successfully placed in orbit, according to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Sunday. The satellites were launched into space on the PSLV-C56 launch vehicle.
On Sunday at 6.30 a.m., the launch vehicle carrying 7 Singaporean satellites blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota. After the successful launch, which followed the launch of Chandrayaan 3, India’s third moon mission, Somanath addressed his fellow ISRO scientists and said, “Congratulations! PSLV-C56 has successfully placed seven satellites, including the main satellite DS-SAR and six co-passenger satellites, in the proper orbit. I want to congratulate the customers who were supported by the Singaporean government for having this mission onboard PSLV because it is a NSIL mission.
This PSLV flight is the 17th to use the Core Alone configuration and the 58th overall. After injecting all the satellites, the rocket’s upper stage was placed in a lower orbit to ensure a shorter orbital lifetime. The Dedicated Commercial Mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for ST Engineering, Singapore is PSLV-C56 / DS-SAR. The main satellite for the mission is DS-SAR, an Earth observation satellite with radar imaging. Six additional customer satellites from Singapore were launched on the ISRO launch vehicle as co-passengers.
The DS-SAR satellite is developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore, the release added.