ISRO to launch last satellite of 2020 on December 17.

ISRO to launch last satellite of 2020 on December 17.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its last satellite of this year next Thursday (December 17). The satellite, codenamed CMS-01, will be launched from the second launchpad of the Sriharikota launch centre (SHAR) at 3.41pm.

As reported by TOI, Isro had been waiting for weather to get clear at the launch centre as a few cyclones in the last fortnight had stalled the last launch of 2020. South India, including the Sriharikota island, had been receiving heavy rainfall in the last few weeks owing to cyclones.

In fact, the CMS-01 launch, which will be lifted off by PSLV-C50, can be deferred if the weather turned adverse in the coming days. CMS-01 is a communication satellite and is meant to provide services in the extended-C band of the frequency spectrum.

The extended-C band coverage will include Indian mainland, Andaman-Nicobar & Lakshadweep Islands, an Isro statement said. The CMS-01, which will have a lifespan of seven years, will be a replacement for Gsat-12 that was launched on July 11, 2011. The upcoming launch will be the second launch of this year after the successful liftoff of EOS-01 (remote sensing satellite) on November 7.

This will be the 52nd mission of PSLV, 22nd flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration and 77th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota. The other satellites that are ready for launch are Gisat-1 and Microsat-2A. They are likely to be launched next year with different code names.

Gisat-1 satellite, which was slated for March 5 this year, was earlier postponed due to technical reasons a day before the launch. On mission launches next year, Isro chairman K Sivan earlier told TOI that “the pandemic-triggered Budget restrictions have affected Isro’s launch operations and that missions next year will be launched only on priority basis”.

He said the first test-launch of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or mini-PSLV and a technology demonstrator test of the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) will also happen next year.

Source By: Times of India.

Thanks : Viswamohan ISRO, Shriharikotta.

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