ISRO has begun the sixteen-hour countdown for the launch of Kalamsat, a student payload and Microsat-R, an imaging satellite, aboard the PSLV-44. The launch will be initiated from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota on 24 January, 2019.
Kalamsat, named after India’s former President and a renowned scientist, A P J Abdul Kalam, was designed and built by students working with a private organisation called "Space Kidz India" in Chennai. It is the world’s lightest satellite, weighing only 1.26 kilograms.
Also, ISRO has agreed to launch the payload at no additional cost. It also stated that Kalamsat will be the first of its kind to have PS4 as an orbital platform. “In PSLV-C44, the fourth stage (PS4) of the vehicle will be moved to higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments. Kalamsat, a student payload will be the first to use PS4 as orbital platform.”
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages. The PSLV with a two strap-on configuration is being used for the upcoming mission and the configuration is designated as PSLV-DL. PSLV-C44 is the first mission of PSLV-DL and is a new variant of PSLV.
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