ISRO successfully launched PSLV-C51 carrying Amazonia-1 from Sriharikot

New Delhi: Initiating its first take-off of the year, the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO has today launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharkota in Andhra Pradesh today.

The PSLV which was launched as per schedule at 10.24 am today carried 19 payloads to space. It needs to be mentioned here that for the first time in history, PSLV has successfully launched a Brazilian Satellite Amazonia-1. It one of the primary satellites which is an optical earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space research (INPE).

In a statement issued by ISRO, it stated that the satellite would strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

Calling it a historic moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on the successful launch of Brazil's Amazonia-1 satellite by PSLV-C51.

"Congratulations President @jairbolsonaro on the successful launch of Brazil's Amazonia-1 satellite by PSLV-C51. This is a historic moment in our space cooperation and my felicitations to the scientists of Brazil," Modi wrote on his Twitter handle.

The 18 co-passenger satellites onboard PSLV-C51 include four from IN-SPACe and fourteen of ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India (NSIL).

The IN-SPACe satellites include three UNITYsats from a consortium of Indian academic institutes and one Satish Dhawan unit from Space Kidz India, which will study space radiation, among other things.

Reportedly, along with the satellites, a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been engraved on the spacecraft to symbolize the Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar initiative and Space privatization. A copy of the Bhagavad Gita in the form of an SD-card is also part of the package.

This is PSLV's 53rd mission, and the first time a Brazilian satellite was launched by an Indian rocket from Sriharikota spaceport.

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