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Karthik Naren

ISRO's PSLV-CA to Launch three Singaporean satellites

Updated: Jun 30, 2022

PSLV-C53 is the second dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)

Chennai, June 29, 2022 ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation undertakes the PSLV-C53 mission on June 30, 2022. The Liftoff targets at 12:32 UTC (6.02 p.m local time) from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

PSLV-C53 at Launch Pad 2, SHAR (ISRO)

PSLV-C53 is the second dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). It is designed to orbit DS-EO satellite along with rideshare payloads; NeuSAR & SCOOB-I from Singapore.

This is the 55th mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 15th mission using PSLV-Core Alone variant: the base variant of PSLV without stage-1 PSOM boosters.

It is the 16th PSLV launch from the second launch pad.

The mission proposes to demonstrate the utilization of the spent upper stage of the launch vehicle as a stabilized platform for scientific payloads after the separation of the satellites.

A four-stage, 44.4 m tall PSLV-C53 has a lift-off mass of 228.433 t. It would inject DS-EO satellite into an orbit with a semi-major axis of 6948.137 + 20 km, at an altitude of 570 km measured from the earth's equator, with a low inclination of ± 10°.


Payloads of PSLV-C53


DS-EO launch configuration (ISRO)

DS-EO is a Singaporean Earth Observation satellite with a mass of 365 kg, carries an Electro-Optic, Reconnaissance multi-spectral payload with 0.5 m resolution imaging capability, that will provide full-color images for land classification, and serving for the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief needs.


DS-EO is jointly acquired by the Defence Science and Technology Agency(DSTA) and ST Engineering It will meet the needs of Singapore agencies, such as maritime security and oil spill detection, and allow ST Engineering to enhance their commercial imagery services.


The Satellite will be stowed on the top deck of the PSLV's Dual Launch Adaptor (DLA)


NeuSAR (DSO)

NeuSAR is a 155 kg Singaporean radar earth observation satellite designed as a pathfinder for a commercial constellation.

NeuSAR is jointly developed by Singapore's Defense Science Organisation (DSO) and ST Engineering. It will be carrying a SAR payload, which is capable of providing images day and night and under all weather conditions.

It features a fully polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), capable of land and maritime applications, and incorporates a unique capability that detects minute changes in the scene between two passes. Designed to achieve a revisit time of fewer than 60 minutes for six satellites in the constellation, NeuSAR is also able to provide day and night, all-weather, and through-cloud imaging possibilities.


SCOOB-I (NTU)

SCOOB-I: A 3U cubesat with a mass of 3.1 kg to measure the solar irradiation in the infrared and visible part of the solar spectrum. It is the first satellite in Student Satellite Series (S3), built under Satellite Research Centre (SaRC) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

SCOOB-I is the size of a shoebox and carries a solar spectral sensor, Earth imaging camera, Attitude Determination System and a novel solar panel developed at SaRC. The solar spectral sensor on SCOOB-I developed by students at NTU will make observations of the Sun in 18 channels from Ultra-Violet to Infra-Red. The solar output is important for calculating the energy output of the Sun which helps in Earth’s radiation budget calculation. The energy from the Sun is absorbed in different parts of the Earth’s atmosphere. By understanding the energy output of the Sun in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, the energy input to the different layers of the atmosphere can be estimated.

SCOOB-I will be Singapore’s first heliophysics mission, which will help us to understand better the Sun-Earth connection and solar impacts on Earth’s climate and weather.


PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)


PS4 (POEM upper stage) [ISRO]

The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) activity is performed in-orbit scientific experiments using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform. It is the first time that PS4 stage would orbit the earth as a stabilized platform. Attitude stabilization is achieved using a dedicated NGC system. POEM derives the power from the solar panels mounted around the PS4 tank and a Li-Ion battery. It navigates using four sun sensors, a magnetometer, gyros & NavIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System).

It carries dedicated control thrusters using Helium gas storage, also enabled with the telecommand feature.

POEM carries six payloads, including two from Indian Space Start-ups M/s Digantara's ROBI (ROBust Integrating proton fluence metre) and M/s Dhruva Space's DSOD 1U Cubesat, enabled through IN-SPACe and NSIL.

On the occasion of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', this time the rocket stage will carry the pledge of India and the national flag to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence.



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