The Indian Space Research Organisation's workhorse rocket system, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), delivered its 53rd successful mission on Sunday by launching Amazonia-1, a 637-kg commercial remote sensing satellite for the Brazilian space research agency INPE, and 18 co-passenger satellites.
ISRO chairman K Sivan described the launch of the Amazonia-1 satellite on the PSLV-C51 and its insertion into a sun synchronous orbit as being “precise” at the end of a 17.23-minute launch sequence at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday morning.
Former Brazilian astronaut and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Marcos Cesar Pontes, who was present at the launch with scientists from INPE, said the successful launch marks a “new era for Brazilian industry for satellite development in Brazil”.
The Amazonia-1 remote sensing satellite is the first satellite designed, developed and launched by the Brazilian space research agency and is intended to monitor deforestation and agricultural activities in the Amazon region in Brazil.
The satellite has been under development in Brazil for nearly two decades.
“We have been working on this satellite for many years and this is the culmination of all the efforts. The satellite has a very important mission for Brazil — first of all, to monitor the country, the Amazon and bio reserves in the country,” the minister Cesar Pontes said after the launch.
“India and…
