Indian Space agency Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thursday successfully launched 46th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C44 carrying Kalasmat – a communication satellite made by students and India’s military satellite Microsat- R in Sriharikota.
Andhra Pradesh: #ISRO launches #PSLVC44 mission, carrying #Kalamsat and #MicrosatR from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. pic.twitter.com/yBI7xlKARK
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2019
ISRO Chief K Sivan speaking on a successful launch of #PSLVC44 mission, carrying Kalamsat, said, ‘ISRO is open to all students of India. Bring to us your satellites and we will launch it for you. Let’s make India into a science-fairing nation’
ISRO Chief K Sivan on successful launch of #PSLVC44 mission, carrying Kalamsat, a satellite made by students: ISRO is open to all students of India. Bring to us your satellites and we will launch it for you. Let's make India into a science-fairing nation. pic.twitter.com/rO9ate1xm3
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2019
S Kesan, Founder & CEO of Space Kids India said, ISRO spent so much money to build a rocket & gave a segment of it for student research, the opportunity was phenomenal. It’s a victory for the entire student aerospace community.
S Kesan, Founder & CEO, Space Kids India whose satellite Kalamsat was launched by ISRO's #PSLVC44 mission: ISRO spent so much money to build a rocket & gave a segment of it for student research,the opportunity was phenomenal. It's a victory for entire student aerospace community. pic.twitter.com/EkarAbQDPL
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2019
The launch that reportedly took place at 11:37 PM is said to be unique as PSLC-C44 fourth stage was re-used automatically to launch Kalasmat and Microsat-R satellite into First Launch Pad (FLP). PSLC-C44 is the first mission of PSLV-DL and is a new variant of PSLV.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds ISRO Scientists for the launch, he said, “Heartiest congratulations to our space scientists for yet another successful launch of PSLV. This launch has put in orbit Kalamsat, built by India’s talented students”.
He added “With this launch, India also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform for micro-gravity experiments”
With this launch, India also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform for micro-gravity experiments. @isro
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
In PSLV-C44, the fourth stage (PS4) of the vehicle will be moved to a higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments. Kalamsat, a student payload, is the first to use PS4 as an orbital platform. PSLV-C44 also carried Microsat-R, an imaging satellite.