ANS: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 19 satellites with Bhagavad Gita in SD (secured digital) card and PM Narendra Modi’s photo engraved on the top panel of the spacecraft through PSLV-C51 rocket from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota 10.24 am on Sunday.
This is the first launch of ISRO in 2021 and the 53rd flight of the PSLV and the third flight of the DL variant. The satellites include one Amazonia-1 satellite of Brazil and 18 Co-passenger satellites including five Indian satellites. One of the co-passenger satellites is from ISRO (a nanosatellite) and one from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI).
The nanosatellite also carries three scientific payloads — one to study space radiation, one to study the magnetosphere, and another that will demonstrate a low-power wide-area communication network.
Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) from Brazil.
This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
A Brazilian delegation was present at Satish Dhawan centre for the launch.
According to the statement released by IRSO, “Amazonia-1 along with 18 other satellites were also launched in the space by ISRO. These are Satish Dhawan Sat (SDSAT) from Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI) and the UNITYSat which is the combination of three satellites, designed and built as a joint development initiative by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, (JITsat), G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur (GHRCESat) and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat). These satellites are intended for providing Radio relay services.”
After the successful launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
“Congratulations President Jair Bolsonaro on the successful launch of Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite by PSLV-C51. This is a historic moment in our space cooperation and my felicitations to the scientists of Brazil,” Modi twitted.
“NSIL undertook the mission under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc, US. With this mission,” ISRO said.
Till now ISRO has launched 342 foreign satellites from 34 countries.