New Delhi, January 12 (IANS). The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the first satellite mission of the year 2026 at 10.17 am on Monday from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch was done from Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C62.
A total of 15 satellites were sent into space in this mission. Among these, Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-N1) Anvesha is the main one.
ISRO gave this information on social media platform X. “Liftoff! PSLV-C62 launches EOS-N1 mission from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota,” the post read.
Anvesha Satellite has been developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The launch aims to enhance India’s remote sensing capabilities in agriculture, urban mapping and environmental monitoring.
It is equipped with advanced imaging capabilities. “The PSLV-C62 mission will also carry a Spanish startup’s KID or Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator, which is a small-scale prototype of the re-entry vehicle being developed by the startup,” the Indian space agency said ahead of the launch.
This mission is considered important for India’s private space sector because for the first time an Indian private company has made a major stake in the PSLV mission. PSLV is counted among the most reliable launch vehicles in the world. Missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan and Aditya-L1 have been launched with this rocket.
PSLV has completed 63 flights, including well-known missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Aditya-L1 and Astrosat Mission. In 2017, PSLV created a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.
ISRO conducted its 101st launch in May with the PSLV-C61 mission to send the 1,696 kg EOS-09 Earth observation satellite into a 505 km sun-synchronous polar orbit. However, due to a technical glitch in the third phase, it was not completely successful.
–IANS
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