Indian Space Research Organization posted the lift-off image of the PSLVC43 carrying 31 satellite on board. Photo: Twitter @isro
Indian Space Research Organization posted the lift-off image of the PSLVC43 carrying 31 satellite on board. Photo: Twitter @isro

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thursday launched the PSLV-C43 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) with the Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) Earth observation satellite.

The launch took place at 9:58am IST from Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the state bordering India’s southeast coast.

The PSLV-C43 also carried one micro-satellite and 29 nano-satellites from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Finland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Of these, one micro-satellite and 22 nano-satellites are from the US.

The Indian Express reported that the HysIS would be able to monitor the Earth’s surface within a bandwidth of 400nm-2500nm wavelength, including the visible, near infrared and far infrared bands of the spectrum. It will also remain at the same position relative to the sun as it relays information about weather patterns, coastlines, and atmospheric behavior.

These observations will also prove to be helpful across the fields of agriculture, forestry, water management, and coastal patterns.

“HysIS is the country’s first-ever innovative satellite that shall provide hyper spectral imaging for advanced earth observation, which will be an added advantage in watching over from space varied sectors like defense, agriculture and mineral exploration,” ISRO chairman K Sivan said on Wednesday.

The PSLV-C43 launch is the 45th mission of India’s PSLV program.

The spacecraft weighs about 380 kilograms and the HysIS satellite will be placed in a 636-kilometer polar sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.957 degrees. It will continue to make observations for five years.

The 30 other satellites will be placed in a 504km orbit by PSLV-C43. The satellites have been contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Ltd, which is the commercial arm of ISRO, Times Now reported.