The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch PSLV-C54/ EOS-06 mission with Oceansat-3 and eight nano satellites, including one from Bhutan, on board from Sriharikota spaceport on November 26. The launch is scheduled at 11.56am on Saturday, the national space agency said on Sunday.
Asked about the passengers aboard the rocket, a senior ISRO
official told PTI: "EOS-06 (Oceansat-3) plus eight nano satellites
(BhutanSat, 'Anand' from Pixxel, Thybolt two numbers from Dhruva Space, and
Astrocast - four units from Spaceflight USA).
Last week, ISRO announced that the payload capability of
India's heaviest LVM3 rocket has been enhanced by up to 450kg with a successful
engine test. According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, the CE20
cryogenic engine indigenously developed for Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) was
subjected to a successful hot test at an uprated thrust level of 21.8 tonnes
for the first time on November 9, the country's national space agency
headquartered here said in a statement.
"This will enhance the LVM3 payload capability up to
450 kg with additional propellant loading", ISRO said. The major
modifications carried out on this test article compared to previous engines was
the introduction of Thrust Control Valve (TCV) for thrust control, the space
agency added.
LVM3, a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons,
a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic stage, is capable of launching a
four-tonne class of satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
"In addition to this, 3D printed LOX and LH2 turbine
exhaust casings were inducted in the engine for the first time. During this
test, the engine operated with approximately 20 tonne thrust level for first
40s, then thrust level was increased to 21.8 tonnes by moving the thrust
control valve," the statement said.