India Launches Advanced Earth-Mapping Satellite and 13 US Cubesats - Space.com

An Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket delivered 14 satellites to orbit tonight (Nov. 26), including 12 for U.S. Earth-imaging company Planet and a prototype for Analytical Space.

The ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on time at 10:58 p.m. EST (9:28 a.m. on Nov. 27 local Indian time).

About 18 minutes after liftoff, the primary payload — India's Cartosat-3 Earth-observation satellite — deployed as planned from the PSLV's fourth stage. The 13 other spacecraft, all of them tiny cubesats, followed suit over the next 10 minutes.

In Photos: Indian Satellites Soar in PSLV Rocket Launch

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The Indian Space Research Organisation's advanced Cartosat-3 Earth observation satellite separate from its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle booster to enter orbit after a smooth launch on Nov. 27, 2019. (Image credit: India Space Research Organisation)

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The small Meshbed cubesat built by Analytical Space Inc. separates from its Indian Space Research Organisation PSLV rocket after a successful launch on Nov. 27, 2019. (Image credit: India Space Research Organisation)

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A train of Planet SuperDove Earth observation cubesats is released from an Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket after a successful launch on Nov. 27, 2019. The rocket carried 12 SuperDove satellites in all, along with another U.S. cubesat called Meshbed and the larger Cartosat-3 Earth observation satellite. (Image credit: Indian Space Research Organisation)

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An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches the Cartosat-3 satellite and 13 U.S. nanosatellites into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Nov. 27, 2019. (Image credit: India Space Research Organisation)

The 3,580-lb. (1,625 kilograms) Cartosat-3 is "a third-generation agile, advanced Earth-observation satellite having high-resolution imaging capability," ISRO officials wrote in the mission's press kit. The spacecraft is designed to study our planet from low-Earth orbit for at least the next five years, gathering data that will aid urban planning and resource and infrastructure development, among other endeavors.

The 12 cubesats from San Francisco-based company Planet are "SuperDoves," the company's latest iteration of tiny Earth-observing spacecraft. The SuperDove line, which includes 26 prototypes that were already in orbit, "features increased spectral bands and major improvements in satellite performance," Planet representatives wrote in a recent blog post. 

Analytical Space Inc. engineers Sera Evcimen (left) and Weston Marlow assemble the Meshbed satellite at MIT's Engine tech startup space before launch.  (Image credit: Analytical Space)

Rounding out the payloads lofted tonight is "Meshbed," a cubesat provided by Massachusetts-based company Analytical Space. 

Meshbed is "a technology demonstration spacecraft intended to pave the way for users on the ground to gain faster access to satellite data," Analytical Space representatives wrote in a description of the satellite. "The spacecraft features a patented MITRE antenna that could help enable that application, as well as government missions including tactical communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance."

The PSLV flew tonight in the "XL" configuration, meaning it featured six strap-on solid rocket motors. This launch was the 21st PSLV XL mission and the 49th overall for the Indian rocket, which debuted in 1993.

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook. 

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