The Hindu : PSLV lift-off successful, METSAT put in space

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 13, 2002

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PSLV lift-off successful, METSAT put in space

By K. Ramachandran

The PSLV-C4 lifting off from the Sriharikota range on Thursday.— Photo: Vino John.

SRIHARIKOTA (Andhra Pradesh) Sept. 12. Indian space scientists today successfully launched the country's first exclusive meteorological satellite (METSAT), using the versatile Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C4, from Sriharikota. This was the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has used the PSLV to launch a meteorological satellite in the geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

In its previous six missions, the PSLV was used to put Indian remote sensing satellites in polar orbit at a height of 800 km. to 900 km. above the earth. The GTO is located 36,000 km. above the earth.

The massive 44.4 m tall PSLV C4 blasted off from its launch pad near the Bay of Bengal coast in southern Andhra Pradesh, at 3.53 p.m.

Moments after the massive strap on motors boomed into action, sending the PSLV into space with an earth-shaking roar and a flaming tail, there was spontaneous applause from eager crowds waiting atop buildings in the newly-named Satish Dhawan space centre. The clapping went on till the vehicle vanished into the sky.

About 21 minutes after the "textbook launch", the PSLV's fourth stage launched the 1,060 kg. METSAT into space.

The ISRO Chairman, K. Kasturirangan, who shared the "wonderful moment" with scientists and technical heads of the organisation, said reports from the Biak earth station (Indonesia), indicated that the health of the satellite was perfect and its systems were functioning satisfactorily. Immediately, the satellite's solar panel was automatically deployed.

The launch had once again proved the versatility of the PSLV series of launch vehicles in putting satellites in the near earth orbit, in polar sun synchronous orbit or in the GTO.

METSAT, built by ISRO, carries a very high resolution radiometer (VHRR) capable of imaging earth in the visible, thermal infrared and water vapour bands. Its data relay transponder can collect data from unattended meteorological platforms and relay it to the New Delhi Met Data utilisation centre. To carry the huge payload, the launch vehicle has been improved. Its four stages use solid and liquid propellants alternately. The third stage solid propellant motor has been optimised and the liquid propellant in the fourth stage has been increased from 2 tonnes to 2.5 tonnes. Besides, the PSLV-C4 has a carbon composite payload adopter resulting in substantial payload advantage.

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