PSLV-C51

The PSLV-C51^[3] is the 53rd mission of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C51 was launched at 04:54 (UTC) / 10:24 (IST) on 28 February 2021 with the main payload from Brazil, INPE's Amazônia-1^[4][5] and 18 other ride-sharing small satellites.^[6][7][8][9]

PSLV-C51

PSLV-DL C51 lifting off from First launch pad
PSLV-DL launch
Launch	28 February 2021 (2021-02-28), 03:54:00 UTC
Pad	Sriharikota First
Payload	Amazônia-1 Satish Dhawan Sat[1] JITsat GHRCEsat Sri Shakthi Sat SpaceBEE (×12)[2] SAI-I - Nanoconnect-2 SindhuNetra
PSLV launches
← PSLV-C50 PSLV-C52 →

It was the first dedicated commercial launch executed by NSIL.^[10]

Details

The PSLV-C51 was launched from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India. The PSLV C51 rocket carried primary payload, Amazônia-1 and 18 secondary payloads^[7] like SDSat and three UnitySats^[11](JITsat, GHRCEsat, Sri Shakthi Sat) etc.

It was the third flight of PSLV-DL,^[3] having 2 strap-on boosters and placed the payloads in Sun-synchronous orbits.^[12]

Private sector company Ananth Technologies worked with ISRO on the PSLV-C51 mission. The company conducted stage integration and checkout on the mission, marking the first time that ISRO had contracted a private sector company to undertake the task.^[13][14]

Launch schedule

The launch was originally scheduled for 22 February 2021, but was delayed to 28 February owing to delays in assembly of the rocket.^[15]

Mission overview

• Propellant:
  • Stage 1: Composite Solid
  • Stage 2: Earth Storable Liquid
  • Stage 3: Composite Solid
  • Stage 4: Earth Storable Liquid
• Altitude: 752 kilometres (467 mi)

The PSLV C51 rocket has four stages; each one was self-contained, with its own propulsion system, thereby capable of functioning independently. The first and third stages used composite solid propellants, while the second and fourth stage use earth-storable liquid propellant.