ISRO to launch Brazil’s Amazonia -1 onboard PSLV-C51 in Feb 2021

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a Brazilian Satellite Amazonia -1 onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 (PSLV- C51) in February 2021.

While talking to IANS K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said “end of February or early March 2021, we will be sending our rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 (PSLV-C51). The primary payload will be the Brazilian satellite called Amazonia, an earth observation satellite.”

PSLV-C51 will also carry 3 Indian Satellites one of which is manufactured by an Indian startup Syzygy Space Technologies Pvt Ltd popularly known as Pixxel. The satellite is an earth observation satellite named “Anand.” This is the first satellite by Pixxel and is primarily for demonstrating the technology. The company plans to to have its constellation of 30 small earth observation satellites up in the sky by the end of 2022.

“Within eight months of setting up of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) after the government announced the opening up of the space sector for private players, ISRO will be launching the first satellite of an Indian startup. Pixxel would like to launch their satellites with our rocket in futur,” said Sivan to IANS.

Awais Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer said, “we will also look at ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for future launches as it would work out cheaper. Normally, a rocket company charges a carriage fee between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 per kg. The SSLV may work out cheaper.”

PSLV-C51 rocket will carry a communication satellite built by the students part of city-based Space Kidz India and another satellite built by consortium of three Indian universities says the news report by IANS.