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ISRO’S PSLV MILESTONE: 60TH FLIGHT ON HORIZON

Why in the News?

• ISRO commemorates the 60th anniversary of the inaugural sounding rocket launch from Thumba, marking a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey.

Source: ISRO

PSLV: A Reliable Workhorse

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), hailed as the “reliable workhorse,” gears up for its 60th flight.
• Recognized for its consistent success, the PSLV remains a cornerstone of ISRO’s launch capabilities.

Launch Target: End of December

• ISRO aims to achieve the landmark 60th PSLV launch by the end of December this year.
• The mission’s focal point is XPoSAT, the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, representing India’s maiden dedicated polarimetry venture.

XPoSAT Mission: Exploring X-ray Sources

• The upcoming PSLV mission holds XPoSAT as its payload, focusing on exploring the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions.
• This marks India’s pioneering foray into dedicated polarimetry missions.

Strap-On Boosters for the 60th Flight

• For the 60th PSLV flight, ISRO opts for a variant equipped with two strap-on motors.
• This modification aligns with the agency’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in space exploration.

PSLV’s Evolution: 30 Years of Progress

• With its roots traced back to the developmental flight PSLV-D1, which faced setbacks in 1993, the PSLV has evolved into a four-stage expendable launch vehicle.
• Over the past 30 years, successful developmental flights paved the way for its commercial launches.

Despite initial challenges, the PSLV emerged as a testament to ISRO’s resilience and determination. Its consistent achievements underscore India’s prowess in space exploration, with the 60th flight poised to contribute to cutting-edge scientific exploration.