Taking off:PSLV-C49, carrying EOS-01 and nine international satellites, was launched from Sriharikota on Saturday.ANIANI  

ISRO Chairman K. Sivan described the mission as a “success” and termed it as “unusual” for ISRO as a rocket launch cannot happen like “work from home” and all engineers and technicians had to travel from different centres and work together at Sriharikota for rocket launches.

“Today, I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV-C49 successfully placed earth observation satellite EOS-01 as well as nine customer satellites precisely into 575 km orbit,” he said at the Mission Control Centre.

Subsequent to the successful launch, the primary satellite commenced operating its own functions, including deployment of solar panels, Dr. Sivan said. “Today, I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV-C49 successfully placed earth observation satellite EOS-01 as well as nine customer satellites precisely into 575 km orbit,” he said at the Mission Control Centre.

Subsequent to the successful launch, the primary satellite commenced operating its own functions, including deployment of solar panels, Dr. Sivan said.

In view of the pandemic, ISRO implemented precautions for COVID-19, and scientists, Mission Directors and Project Directors were seen with face masks, maintaining social distancing at the Mission Control Centre. There was no gathering of mediapersons and the public viewing gallery too was closed.

ISRO made arrangements for the live telecast of the launch through various platforms, including its website and social media sites.

In a textbook sequence, the four stage 44.5-metre tall PSLV-C49, in its 51st flight, blasted off from the first launch pad of SDSC at 3.12 p.m. at the end of a 26-hour countdown and soared into the sky. The launch, originally scheduled for 3.02 p.m., was delayed as the scientists, around 15 minutes before lift-off, “decided to put on hold following debris on the path of the rocket and inclement weather conditions”.

After the 10 minute delay, the rocket blasted off amid heavy rain, leaving a trail of orange fumes before vanishing into thick clouds over the spaceport.

After a flawless flight with all four stages performing as programmed, the rocket first injected the primary satellite EOS-01 into orbit around 15 minutes after lift-off, followed by the customer spacecraft, as the mood at the Mission Control Centre turned jubilant with scientists breaking into cheers.

PSLV Mission Director S. R. Biju announced that all the 10 satellites were separated and were placed into desired orbits.

“PSLV-C49/EOS-01 mission is fully accomplished,” he said amid loud cheers from fellow scientists at the centre.

Noting that Saturday’s mission was “very special” and “very unusual” for ISRO, Dr. Sivan congratulated the ISRO team, who had to reach here from different centres amid the pandemic, and said the EOS-01 satellite team and those behind the nine satellites would now take care of the rest of the mission.

Besides human resources, he also referred to availability of “hardware” for the launch as they had to be transported “carefully” from various parts of the country to Sriharikota.

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