Countdown for PSLV from Monday

The T-51 hour countdown for the launch of PSLV-C14 on September 23 from the spaceport of Sriharikota would commence at 0900 hrs tomorrow.  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources told UNI today that the launch would take place at around 1153 hrs on September 23.

ISRO Scientists, putting behind the Chandrayaan-1 debacle, whose mission was cut short in ten months, were gearing up for the launch of the core alone PSLV-C14, which would carry India's 960 kg ocean monitoring satellite Oceansat-2 and six nano satellites from abroad. The launch campaign has gathered momentum and various tests were being carried on.

''The satellites are mated with the launch vehicle and the pre-launch activities are proceeding normally and smoothly without any hitch,'' the sources said. ''All arrangements are on for the launch,'' the sources added. Apart from Oceansat-2, the other micro satellites included four Cubesats and two Rubinsats.

The Oceansat-2, to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit 720 km above the earth, would supplement the work of its predecessor Oceansat-1 and facilitate climatic study, including sea surface temperature. As oceans cover a major part of the earth, the satellite assumes significance, as it would study the colour of oceans for effective fishing.

While the Oceansat-2 and four Cubesats, each weighing about one kg, would be injected into the orbit, the two Rubinsats, each weighing seven to eight kg, would remain permanently attached to the vehicle’s fourth stage.

They would perform their task while remaining attached to the PSLV’s fourth stage, the sources said.

This would be the second time that ISRO would be launching a cluster of nano satellites. ISRO had created a world record by launching ten satellites, including eight nano satellites in a single mission while launching CARTOSAT-2A last year. India's maiden unmanned lunar exploratory mission was aborted within ten months of its launch, but ISRO scientists said the Spacecraft had nearly achieved its full mission.

The scientists exuded confidence that the cut short of Chandrayaan mission would in no way affect their morale and they were eagerly looking for the success of PSLV-C14.

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