PSLV-C34

Model of the PSLV rocket
Mission type	Deployment of 20 satellites.
Operator	ISRO
Website	ISRO website
Mission duration	26:30 minutes
Distance travelled	505 Km
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Spacecraft type	Launch vehicle
Manufacturer	ISRO
Launch mass	320,000 kilograms (710,000 lb)
Payload mass	1,288 kilograms (2,840 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	09:26:00, 22 June 2016 (UTC) (2016-06-22T09:26:00Z) (IST)
Rocket	PSLV
Launch site	Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Contractor	ISRO
Deployment date	22 June 2016
End of mission
Disposal	Placed in graveyard orbit
Deactivated	22 June 2016
Orbital parameters
Regime	Sun-synchronous orbit
Payload
Cartosat-2 satellite (primary) and 19 other satellites from Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia & United States.
Transponders
HPBW
First stage
Propellant mass	211,400 kg (466,100 lb)
Propellant	HTPB based
Second stage
Propellant mass	42,000 kg (93,000 lb)
Propellant	Liquid UH 25 + N2O4
Third stage
Propellant mass	7,600 kg (16,800 lb)
Propellant	HTPB based
Fourth stage
Propellant mass	2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
Propellant	Liquid MMH + MON-3
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle missions ← PSLV-C33 PSLV-C35 →

PSLV-C34 was the 36th mission of the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) program and 14th mission of PSLV in XL configuration. The PSLV-C34 successfully carried and deployed 20 satellites in the Sun-synchronous orbit. With a launch mass of 320,000 kilograms (710,000 lb) and payload mass of 1,288 kilograms (2,840 lb), the C34 set a new record of deploying the maximum number of satellites by Indian Space Research Organisation in a single mission. The PSLV-C34 carried One Cartosat-2 satellite, SathyabamaSat (satellite from Sathyabama University, Chennai), Swayam (satellite from College of Engineering, Pune) & 17 other satellites from United States, Canada, Germany & Indonesia.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Mission parameters

• Mass:
  • Total liftoff weight: 320,000 kilograms (710,000 lb)
  • Payload weight: 1,288 kilograms (2,840 lb)
• Overall height: 44.4 metres (145.7 ft)
• Propellant:
  • Stage 1: Solid HTPB based
  • Stage 2: Liquid UH 25 + N₂O₄
  • Stage 3: Solid HTPB based
  • Stage 4: Liquid MMH + MON-3
• Altitude: 526.877 kilometres (327 mi)
• Maximum velocity: 7,606.61 metres per second (24,956 ft/s) (recorded at time of Cartosat-2 separation)
• Inclination: 97.48°
• Period: 26 minutes 30 seconds

Source:^[7]

Launch

PSLV-C34 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 09:26 IST on 22 June 2016. The PSLV carried total 20 satellites including the primary payload Cartosat-2C. Cartosat-2C was placed in low Earth orbit at 9:44 IST. The entire mission lasted 26 minutes and 30 seconds.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} The PSLV-C34 is a more advanced, expendable version of the rocket used to launch the Indian Mars Orbiter in 2014.^[8]

Mission milestones

The mission marked:

• 36th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
• 14th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in XL configuration.
• Record number of satellites carried on a single flight by ISRO.

Sources:^[4][7]

Record launch

On 28 April 2008, by placing 10 satellites on PSLV-C9 (PSLV-CA), Indian Space Research Organisation created a world record for the highest number of satellites launched in a single mission. This record was broken by NASA in 2013 (by launching 29 satellites) and was further improved by ISRO when they launched 104 satellites. PSLV-C34 launch was the biggest launch (in terms of number of satellites) by ISRO until PSLV-C37.^[9][10]

Payload

PSLV-C34 carried and deployed total 20 satellites. Following are the details of the payload.^[7]

Country	Name	Nos	Mass	Type	Objective
Canada	M3MSat	1	85 kg	Microsatellite technology demonstration	Study of AIS from Low Earth orbit.
	GHGSat-D	1	25.5 kg	Earth observation microsatellite	Measuring atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.
	BIROS	1	130 kg	Earth observation microsatellite	Remote sensing of high-temperature events.
India	Cartosat-2C	1	727.5 kg	Earth observation satellite	Primary payload. For LIS & GIS uses.
	SathyabamaSat	1	01.5 kg	Earth observation nanosatellite	Collect data on greenhouse gases.
	Swayam	1	01 kg	Earth observation nanosatellite	To provide point-to-point messaging services to HAM community.
	LAPAN-A3	1	120 kg	Earth observation microsatellite	For land use, natural resource and environment monitoring.
USA	SkySat Gen2-1	1	110 kg	Earth observation microsatellite	Capable of capturing sub-meter resolution imagery and High-definition video.
	Flock-2P	12	04.7 kg	Earth observation nanosatellites	Earth imaging.