India is launching the Isreali satellite ‘Polaris’ today from the Satish Dawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta, in Andhrapradesh, by a core-alone configuration of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
India for the second time through a core-alone PSLV configuration will put a satellite in orbit.In April, 2007,PSLV C-8 successfully put Italian satellite ‘Agile’in orbit.
In normal configuration the four stage PSLV has strap on boosters around its first stage. Weighing 295 tonnes with a 44 meters hight, it can put satellites weighing upto 1200 kg in low earth orbit.
In a ‘core-alone’ configuration, the six strap-on booster motors are removed and the main ‘PSLV’ looks like a lean and hungry vehicle.Weighing only 230 tonnes it can deploy satellites weighing upto 600 kg into orbit.
‘Polaris’weighing about 300 kg, a radar -imaging remote sensing satellite, was mated with the vehicle, a week ago.ISRO was to launch it in September, 2007, postponed it to October, 2007.Then the top ISRO officials claimed that the Israelis had some technical difficulties.There was also some rumours floating that under pressure from US and the Gulf countries, India has postponed the launcing of ‘Polaris’
Now with the ISRO machine and vehicle directors along with Isreal scientists are busy in launching the ‘polaris’.
‘Antrix Corporation Limited, marketing agency of the Department of Space will receive the money from the Isreal Space Agency for the commercial launch of ‘POLARIS’.