India begins countdown to launch 31 satellites on 12 January 2018

India began countdown early 11 January 2018 for launching 31 satellites in a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from its spaceport. The 28-hour countdown began at 5.29 a.m. in the mission control here for the rocket launch at 9.28 a.m. on 12 January 2018.

The spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SDSC-SHAR) is located about 80 km northeast of Chennai off the Bay of Bengal coast.The four stage PSLV-C40 stands 44.4 metres tall and weighs about 320 tonne at the lift off stage. The 31 satellites with a combined weight of 1,323 kg have been integrated with the PSLV for deploying them in the earth’s lower orbit after lift off.

The Indian satellites are 710 kg Cartosat-2 series for Earth observation as the primary satellite of the mission, along with co-passenger payloads, including 100 kg micro satellite and a 10 kg nano satellite.

About 17 minutes 18 seconds after the lift off, the Cartosat-2 series will be separated and injected into its 505 km sun synchronous orbit. The Cartosat-2 has been designed to stay in its orbit for five years. ISRO would be adopting an optimum separation sequence of all its satellites so as to avoid any collisions.

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