Guwahati: Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) today launched the electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT along with 28 nano satellites of global customers from Sriharikota.
With the launch of EMISAT, India seeks to give birth to a new surveillance satellite with a special mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLVC-45).
The launch of EMISAT comes almost a week after India test fires an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile which was a part of the Mission Shakti operation.
According to a report of ISRO, the countdown for the launch of the PSLV in its 47th flight began at 6.27 am on Sunday and that this is the 71st launch vehicle mission for Sriharikota.
ISRO also said that this is the first time that they have invited the common people to view the launch.
According to sources, EMISAT which is a low Eart Orbit Satellite weighs 436 kgs which will monitor and give locations for enemy radar sites deep in their territory. India was using aeroplanes till date as early warning platforms but this satellite will give a space-based platform to sniff out enemy radars.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said that they are targeting the PSLVC-45 which is the immediate mission. The mission would see ISRO placing payloads in three orbits and conducting space experiments for the first time. Sivan said that the mission is special in the sense and for the first time PSLV will have a three-orbit mission in a single flight.
The ISRO also said that EMISAT is aimed at measuring the electromagnetic spectrum and they would restart the fourth stage again at around 17 minutes from lift off in a 749 km orbit.
The launch of EMISAT also carries 28 small satellites of the United States, Switzerland, Lithuania and Spain which include 20 Flock 4A satellites and 4 Lemur satellites of the same variety which was used at the Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force that gave the controversial images that questioned the efficacy of the satellites used.
It has also been reported that the last stage of the rocket will be kept alive in this mission for several weeks before it becomes space junk and it will be used as an orbiting space laboratory where three instruments are attached to the rocket motor.
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