PSLV-C6

PSLV-C6 was the sixth operational launch and overall ninth mission of the PSLV program. This launch was also the fifty-fourth launch by Indian Space Research Organisation since its first mission on 1 January 1962. The vehicle carried and injected India's two satellites; Cartosat-1 (a.k.a. IRS-P5) and HAMSAT into the Sun-synchronous orbit. PSLV-C6 was launched at 04:44 hours Coordinated Universal Time (10:14 hours Indian Standard Time) on 5 May 2005 from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

PSLV-C6

The PSLV – C6 on its mobile pedestal after having been strapped to launch tower at Sriharikota on 1 May 2005
Names	HAMSAT mission
Mission type	Deployment of two satellites.
Operator	ISRO
Website	ISRO website
Mission duration	1,120 seconds
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Spacecraft type	Expendable launch vehicle
Manufacturer	ISRO
Launch mass	295,980 kilograms (652,520 lb)
Payload mass	1,602.5 kilograms (3,533 lb)
Dimensions	44.4 metres (146 ft) (overall height)
Start of mission
Launch date	04:44, May 5, 2005 (UTC) (2005-05-05T04:44:00Z)
Rocket	Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Launch site	SDSC SLP
Contractor	ISRO
End of mission
Disposal	Placed in graveyard orbit
Deactivated	May 5, 2005 (2005-05-05)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Sun-synchronous orbit
Payload
Cartosat-1 HAMSAT
Mass	1,602.5 kilograms (3,533 lb)
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle missions ← PSLV-C5 PSLV C7 →

Mission highlights

• Sixth operational launch of the PSLV program.
• Overall ninth mission of the PSLV program.
• Overall fifty-fourth launch by Indian Space Research Organisation.
• First flight to be launched from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• Carried and injected two satellites built by ISRO.^[6][7][8]

Mission parameters

• Mass:
  • Total liftoff weight: 295,980 kilograms (652,520 lb)
  • Payload weight: 1,602.5 kilograms (3,533 lb)
• Overall height: 44.4 metres (145.7 ft)
• Propellant:
  • First stage: Solid HTPB based (138.0 + 6 x 9 tonnes)
  • Second stage: Liquid UH 25 + N₂O₄ (41.5 tonnes)
  • Third stage: Solid HTPB based (7.6 tonnes)
  • Fourth stage: Liquid MMH + MON (2.5 tonnes)
• Engine:
  • First stage: Core (PS 1) + 6 strap-on PSOM
  • Second stage: Vikas
  • Third stage: PS 3
  • Fourth stage: PS 4
• Thrust:
  • First stage: 4,762 + 645 x 6 kN
  • Second stage: 800 kN
  • Third stage: 246 kN
  • Fourth stage: 7.3 x 2 kN
• Altitude: 628.535 kilometres (391 mi)
• Maximum velocity:7,546 metres per second (24,757 ft/s) (recorded at time of payload separation)
• Duration: 1,120 seconds

^[6][7][9]

Payload

PSLV-C6 carried and deployed two Indian satellites, Cartosat-1 (a.k.a. IRS-P5) and HAMSAT into the Sun-synchronous orbit. Built by ISRO, Cartosat-1 was a stereoscopic remote sensing satellite and first of the Cartosat series of satellites.^[5] HAMSAT was a microsatellite, built for providing satellite based amateur radio satellite to the national as well as the international community of amateur radio operators (HAM).^[10]

Country	Name	Nos	Mass	Type	Objective
India	IRS-P5	1	1,560 kg	Satellite	Remote sensing satellite
	HAMSAT	1	42.5 kg	Microsatellite	Amateur radio satellite

Launch & planned flight profile

PSLV-C 6 blasting off from launch Tower at Sriharikota on May 5, 2005

Heat shield of PSLV displayed at HAL heritage center.

PSLV-C6 was launched at 04:44 hours Coordinated Universal Time (10:14 hours Indian Standard Time) on 5 May 2005 from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission was planned with pre-flight prediction of covering overall distance of 622 kilometres (386 mi). Following was the flight profile.^[9]

Stage	Time (seconds)	Altitude (kilometer)	Velocity (meter/sec)	Event	Remarks
First stage	T+0	0.025	452	Ignition of PS 1	Lift off
	T+1.19	0.026	452	Ignition of 4 ground-lit PSOM
	T+25	2.463	551	Ignition of 2 air-lit PSOM
	T+68	23.748	1,179	Separation of 4 ground-lit PSOM
	T+90	42.768	1,659	Separation of 2 air-lit PSOM
	T+112.03	67.411	1,995	Separation of PS 1
Second stage	T+112.23	67.635	1,994	Ignition of PS 2
	T+156.03	115.244	2,314	Separation of heat shield
	T+263.38	233.873	4,087	Separation of PS 2
Third stage	T+264.58	235.304	4,083	Ignition of HPS 3
	T+517.52	498.974	5,865	Separation of HPS 3
Fourth stage	T+531.50	509.092	5,851	Ignition of PS 4
	T+1,043.62	627.153	7,542	Cut-off of PS 4
	T+1,080.62	627.801	7,546	Cartosat-1 separation
	T+1,120.62	628.535	7,546	HAMSAT separation	Mission complete

See also

• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle