Countdown begins for PSLV-C51 Amazonia-1 mission

Bengaluru, Feb 27 (PTI) Countdown for the launch of
PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission commenced on Saturday from Satish
Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
PSLV-C51 rocket, which is the 53rd mission of PSLV (Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle), will launch Amazonia-1 of Brazil as
primary satellite and 18 co-passenger satellites from
Sriharikota, about 100 kms from Chennai, Bengaluru-
headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation said in a
statement.
The launch is tentatively scheduled at 1024hours on
February 28, subject to weather conditions.
The countdown began at 0854 hours.
PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is the first dedicated commercial
mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial
arm.
NSIL is undertaking this mission under a commercial
arrangement with Seattle, US-based satellite rideshare and
mission management provider, Spaceflight Inc.
Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of
National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
"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", the
statement said.
The 18 co-passenger satellites are -- four from Indian
National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (three
UNITYsats from consortium of three Indian academic institutes
and one Satish Dhawan Sat from Space Kidz India) and 14 from
NSIL. PTI RS
ROH ROH

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)