ISRO set for PSLV-XL launch form Sriharikota today

 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its PSLV-XL (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL variant) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, with five British satellites onboard.

According to ISRO, the total weight of five satellites is around 1,440kg, which is the heaviest undertaken by ISRO and its commercial wing ANTRIX. The launch is scheduled to take place at 9.58pm. The 62.5 hour countdown for the launch had begun on Wednesday at 07.28 am.

This is second launch by the ISRO in 2015 with the previous one being launch navigation satellite-IRNSS-1D earlier in March. In terms of commercial launches, this is the first one this year. ISRO has launched 40 satellites with its workhorse PSLV since 1999. This launch will take this tally to 45. The British satellites, three DMC3 and the CBNT-1 satellites are built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd while the De-OrbitSail is built by Surrey Space Centre.