News Highlights
- Besides placing three Singaporean satellites in a precise orbit, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also achieved the feat of successfully launching the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module or ‘POEM.
What is POEM?
- The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module is a platform that will help perform in-orbit experiments using the final, and otherwise discarded, stage of ISRO’s workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- What is PSLV?
- The PSLV is a four-stage rocket where the first three spent stages fall back into the ocean, and the final stage (PS4) after launching the satellite into orbit ends up as space junk.
POEM in PSLV – C53
- By using the POEM platform PSLV-C53 mission, the spent final step will be utilized as a “stabilized platform” to perform experiments.
- It is the first time that the PS4 stage would orbit the earth as a stabilized platform
- POEM is carrying six payloads, including two from Indian space start-ups Dirgantara and Dhruva Space.
How will ISRO keep POEM ‘alive and stable’ in orbit?
- POEM has a dedicated Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system for attitude stabilization, which stands for controlling the orientation of any aerospace vehicle within permitted limits.
- The NGC will act as the platform’s brain to stabilize it with specified accuracy.
Source of Power and Navigation of POEM
- POEM will derive its power from solar panels mounted around the PS4 tank, and a Li-Ion battery.
- It will navigate using “four sun sensors, a magnetometer, gyros, and NavIC”.
- It carries dedicated control thrusters using Helium gas storage. It is enabled with a telecommand feature
Reuse of PS4 Rocket
- The Indian space agency first demonstrated the capability of using PS4 as an orbital platform in 2019 with the PSLV-C44 mission that injected Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into their designated orbits.
- The fourth stage in that mission was kept alive as an orbital platform for space-based experiments.
Pic Courtesy: Times of India
Content Source: Indian Express