PSLV-C60 launches SpaDeX; POEM-4 flies 24 experimental payloads
ISRO's PSLV-C60 lifted off from Sriharikota at 10 p.m. on 30 December 2024 with the two SpaDeX satellites and 24 POEM-4 payloads.
Summary
ISRO's PSLV-C60 lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, at 10 p.m. on 30 December 2024, carrying the two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites, SDX01 and SDX02. PSLV-C60 was the first vehicle integrated up to the PS4 stage at the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) and then moved to the Mobile Service Tower for satellite assembly and launch. After separating the satellites, the spent fourth stage became the fourth PS4 Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4), carrying 24 payloads: 14 from ISRO/DOS centres and 10 from academia and start-ups received through IN-SPACe, a three-fold increase over POEM-3, which carried eight. The payloads include the Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD) from the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, described as India's first space robotic manipulator with walking capability, a debris capture robotic manipulator from VSSC, and the CROPS module from VSSC to demonstrate seed germination up to the two-leaf stage in microgravity.
Key facts
- Launch
- 30 December 2024, 10 p.m., First Launch Pad, SDSC Sriharikota
- Primary payload
- Two SpaDeX satellites, SDX01 and SDX02
- Integration first
- First vehicle integrated up to PS4 at the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF), then moved to the MST/FLP
- POEM-4 payloads
- 24: 14 from ISRO/DOS, 10 from NGEs via IN-SPACe
- Versus POEM-3
- Three-fold increase; POEM-3 hosted 8 payloads
- RRM-TD
- Walking Robotic Arm by IISU; India's first space robotic manipulator with walking capability (7 DoF, inch-worm walking)
- CROPS
- VSSC module; 5–7 day seed germination experiment to the two-leaf stage
- SpaDeX mission life
- Up to two years
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How many payloads were flown on the POEM-4 platform of the PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission launched on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 24
ISRO: POEM-4 carried 24 payloads, 14 from ISRO/DOS centres and 10 from non-government entities through IN-SPACe; POEM-3 had carried 8.
The Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD) on POEM-4, described by ISRO as India's first space robotic manipulator with walking capability, was developed by:
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Correct answer: C — ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU)
ISRO: the Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (Walking Robotic Arm) was developed by IISU; the debris capture robotic manipulator and CROPS are from VSSC.
Consider the following statements about the PSLV-C60 mission: 1. PSLV-C60 was the first vehicle integrated up to the PS4 stage at the PSLV Integration Facility before being moved for satellite assembly. 2. Ten of the POEM-4 payloads came from academia and start-ups through IN-SPACe. 3. The previous POEM-3 platform had hosted 12 payloads. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ISRO: PSLV-C60 was the first vehicle integrated up to PS4 at PIF, and 10 of the 24 payloads came from NGEs via IN-SPACe; POEM-3 hosted only eight payloads, so statement 3 is wrong.