ISRO braces for 2 major launches on January 24 with PSLV

The Indian Space Research Organisation Wednesday said its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will launch the Kalamsat payload and Microsat-R satellite from Sriharikota on January 24. PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages. "The PSLV with 2 strap-on configuration has been identified for this 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," ISRO said. It will be launched from First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota.

"Kalamsat, a student payload will be the first to use PS4 as an orbital platform. PSLV-C44 will also carry Microsat-R, an imaging satellite," the agency said. In PSLV-C44, the fourth stage (PS4) of the vehicle would be moved to a higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments. Kalamsat will be the first to use PS4 as an orbital platform, ISRO said.