The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 2 Singapore Satellites named TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4 into a low earth orbit on Saturday’ April 22, from Sriharikota spaceport at 14:19 hours Indian Standard Time. Marking the third major launch of the year 2023, this mission is a dedicated commercial mission through the commercial arm of ISRO, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL).
Singapore Satellites – TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4
Developed for the Singaporean Government, the two Singapore Satellites were carried by ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C55 (PSLV-C55). It was the 57th flight of a 228-ton PSLV launch vehicle and 16th flight with a Core Alone configuration variant (launch vehicle lightest version with only four core stages and without any strap-on boosters), demonstrating its high suitability and reliability for commercial mission satellite launches.
The PSLV-C55 rocket placed 741kg TeLEOS-2 satellite in a 586km orbit around 19 minutes after the lift-off and the 16kg Lumelite-4 satellite in the desired orbit around fifty seconds after the first one. Around two minutes later, when the last Singapore Satellites were separated from the rocket, the PSLV upper stage underwent a chemical process of the propellants responsible for powering PSLV’s upper stage. After this, the upper stage of the rocket PS4 turned into an (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-2 or POEM-2) orbital platform to perform in-orbit scientific experiments with payloads attached to it.
TeLEOS-2 (Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite)
Developed under a joint collaboration between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering, TeLEOS-2 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite carrying a SAR payload. The Satellite will be capable of imaging at 1m full-polarimetric resolution and would provide all-weather day and night coverage. Once deployed and operational, it will also support various agencies’ satellite imagery requirements within the Singapore’ Government.
Lumelite-4 (Technology Demonstration Nano-Satellite)
The Lumelite-4 satellite is an advanced 12U Technology Demonstration Nano-Satellite, developed for the technological demonstration of High-Performance Space-borne VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). It is co-developed by the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) of A*STAR and Satellite Technology and Research Centre (STAR) of the National University of Singapore. The satellite aims to augment e-navigation maritime safety of Singapore while providing benefit to the global shipping community.
POEM-2 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module)
Apart from the launch of two customer satellites, the POEM-2 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-2) was also the part of this mission. POEM-2 carried seven experimental non-separable payloads from ISRO, Dhruva Space, Bellatrix, Indian Institute of Astrophysics and these have an operational lifespan of 30 days in space.
After the successful launch of PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said that in February 2024, they are targeting to send the first uncrewed GSLV rocket as part of the Gaganyaan (India’s human space mission) mission. He further stated plans for Gagayaan mission and said, there will be a test Gagayaan mission in June this year where the rocket would go up to 12-14 km and test its safety systems. Mr. Somanath also stated that there are several space missions that are coming up, “We will send the Aditya L1 (the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun), Navigation satellites, a commercial launch with the heavier rocket GSLV and a mission with Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).”
