Sriharikota: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51 successfully launched Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 along with 18 co-passenger satellites today from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This was the first dedicated launch by state-run NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) under the Department of Space.

PSLV-C51 lifted off from the First Launch Pad of SDSC SHAR at 10:24 hours (IST) as planned. After a flight of about 17 minutes, the vehicle injected the Amazonia-1 into its intended orbit and in the succeeding 1 hour 38 minutes, all the 18 co-passenger satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence.

ISRO Chairman Dr K. Sivan congratulated team Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for precise injection of Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites. Talking about the primary satellite, Amazonia-1, Sivan said, “India and ISRO feel extremely proud and honoured to launch the first satellite designed, integrated and operated by Brazil. Hearty congratulations to the Brazilian team for this achievement.”

Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Marcos Cesar Pontes congratulated ISRO team for today’s successful launch. “Amazonia-1 is an important mission for Brazil, which also marks beginning of a new era for satellite development in the country,” he remarked. He emphasized the importance of partnership between India and Brazil and was looking forward to further strengthen ties with India.

Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This satellite will provide remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) Chairman and Managing Director Narayanan G. thanked INPE of Brazil for their faith in ISRO and NSIL’s strength and Spaceflight Inc. of United States for facilitating this mission.

He also acknowledged the other auxiliary payloads flown onboard this mission and wished all the customers to achieve their desired goals. “I also thank team ISRO and DOS for their clockwork precision,” he concluded.

The 18 co-passenger satellites onboard PSLV-C51 includes four from IN-SPACe and fourteen from NSIL. The fourteen satellites from NSIL carried were the commercial satellites, one from India and 13 from the United States.

Of the four satellites from IN-SPACe, three were UNITYsats designed and built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur; G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur; Sri Shakti Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore; and one was Satish Dhawan Sat (SDSAT) from SpaceKidz India.

Dr Sivan appreciated the efforts of the teams in building the satellites. “These satellites were fruition of the new space reforms announced by the Government of India wherein ISRO promoted and handheld the teams. I am very sure this mission will enthuse other academic institutions and industries to build satellites,” he placed on record.

PSLV-C51 is the 53rd flight of PSLV and 3rd flight of PSLV in ‘DL’ configuration (with two strap-on motors). This was the 78th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. With today’s launch, the total number of customer satellites from foreign countries placed in orbit by PSLV is 342 satellites from 34 countries.

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