PSLV-C34 was the 36th mission of the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) program and 14th mission of PSLV in XL configuration. The PSLV-C34 successfully carried and deployed 20 satellites in the Sun-synchronous orbit. With a launch mass of and payload mass of , the C34 set a new record of deploying the maximum number of satellites by Indian Space Research Organisation in a single mission. The PSLV-C34 carried One Cartosat-2 satellite, SathyabamaSat (satellite from Sathyabama University, Chennai), Swayam (satellite from College of Engineering, Pune) & 17 other satellites from United States, Canada, Germany & Indonesia.
Mission parameters Mass: Total liftoff weight: Payload weight: Overall height: Propellant: Stage 1: Solid HTPB based Stage 2: Liquid UH 25 + Stage 3: Solid HTPB based Stage 4: Liquid MMH + MON-3 Altitude: Maximum velocity: (recorded at time of Cartosat-2 separation) Inclination: 97.48° Period: 26 minutes 30 seconds Source:
Launch PSLV-C34 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 09:26 IST on 22 June 2016. The PSLV carried total 20 satellites including the primary payload Cartosat-2C. Cartosat-2C was placed in low Earth orbit at 9:44 IST. The entire mission lasted 26 minutes and 30 seconds. The PSLV-C34 is a more advanced, expendable version of the rocket used to launch the Indian Mars Orbiter in 2014.
Mission milestones The mission marked: 36th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. 14th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in XL configuration. Record number of satellites carried on a single flight by ISRO. Sources:
Record launch On 28 April 2008, by placing 10 satellites on PSLV-C9 (PSLV-CA), Indian Space Research Organisation created a world record for the highest number of satellites launched in a single mission. This record was broken by NASA in 2013 (by launching 29 satellites) and was further improved by ISRO when they launched 104 satellites. PSLV-C34 launch was the biggest launch (in terms of number of satellites) by ISRO until PSLV-C37.
Payload PSLV-C34 carried and deployed total 20 satellites. Following are the details of the payload.
Country Name Nos Mass Type Objective Canada M3MSat 1 85 kg Microsatellite technology demonstration Study of AIS from Low Earth orbit. GHGSat-D 1 25.5 kg Earth observation microsatellite Measuring atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. BIROS 1 130 kg Earth observation microsatellite Remote sensing of high-temperature events. India Cartosat-2C 1 727.5 kg Earth observation satellite Primary payload. For LIS & GIS uses. SathyabamaSat 1 01.5 kg Earth observation nanosatellite Collect data on greenhouse gases. Swayam 1 01 kg Earth observation nanosatellite To provide point-to-point messaging services to HAM community. LAPAN-A3 1 120 kg Earth observation microsatellite For land use, natural resource and environment monitoring. USA SkySat Gen2-1 1 110 kg Earth observation microsatellite Capable of capturing sub-meter resolution imagery and High-definition video. Flock-2P 12 04.7 kg Earth observation nanosatellites Earth imaging.
See also Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
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