ISRO All Set To Launch 83 Satellites In A Single Rocket

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch 83 satellites into orbit on a single rocket by the beginning of 2017. The present record of 37 satellites was set by Russia in 2014.

According to NDTV, a top official of Antrix Corporation said that ISRO is planning to create a world record by putting 83 satellites into orbit - two Indian and 81 foreign on a single rocket in 2017. He also added that the firm's order book stands at Rupees 500 crore while the negotiations are on for a launch order for another Rupees 500 crore.

Antrix Corporation is the commercial wing of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). As per a report published in News 18, Rakesh Sasibhushan, Chairman and Managing Director of Antrix Corporation told IANS, "During the first quarter of 2017, ISRO planned to launch a single rocket carrying 83 satellites. Most of the foreign satellites are classified under Nano satellites."

All the 83 satellites will be put together in a single orbit and thus, there won't be any switching off and on of the rocket. One of the major challenges before the proposed mission is to hold the rocket in the same orbit till the satellites are safely expelled. ISRO will use its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) rocket variant for the record launch. Launching multiple satellites at one go is not a new thing for ISRO. They have gone through this concept several times during the past years.

The total payload or the weight carried off to space by the PSLV-XL rocket will be around 1600 kilograms. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, ISRO declined to name the clients whose satellites will put into orbit by ISRO. Sasibhushan said that some satellites belong to the clients whose satellites have been put into orbit by ISRO in the past.

ISRO is also conducting high altitude tests within its own cryogenic engine and is expected to power the heavier rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-MK III (GSLV MK III). The rocket is being scheduled to fly in 2017.