Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches its PSLV-C55 with two Singaporean satellites for Earth observation, from Sriharikota.
NewSpace India Limited, the commercial wing of the Department of Space, has facilitated the mission that will have TeLEOS-2 as the primary satellite. The 741-kg earth observation satellite will have all-weather capabilities to meet the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies that are operating under the Singapore Government. The other satellite will be LUMELITE-4, an advanced satellite that weighs 16 kg and developed to demonstrate a very high frequency data exchange system.
The satellite has been designed to boost Singapore’s e-navigation maritime safety and also benefit the global shipping community.
As per ISRO, TeLEOS-2 has been developed under a partnership between the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), a body under the Government of Singapore responsible for performing defence- and science-related activities, and Singapore Technologies Engineering, a Singaporean aerospace company.
The space research organisation said the two satellites are scheduled to be launched into an eastward low inclination orbit. This will be the 57th flight of the Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV). PSLV-C55 will also carry the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM). This is the third ISRO mission carrying POEM. PSLV-C53 was the first mission to carry POEM.
POEM-2 will have seven experimental, non-separable payloads developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Bellatrix Aerospace and Dhruva Space.
The non-separating POEM-2 payloads are ARIS-2, PiLOT, ARKA200, Starberry, DSOL, DSOD-3U, and DSOD-6U. PSLV-C55 has a height of 44.4 metres, and a lift-off mass of 228.355 tonnes.
