Microsat-R

Launch data:

Description:

• Microsat-R is an small Indian earth observation satellite built for the Indian military Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

Mission details:

• On Jan 24, 2019 ISRO carried out the first launch of the PSLV-DL, a lightweight variant of the PSLV-XL with only two strapon boosters. It placed a 740 kg military imaging satellite for DRDO, Microsat-R, in a 274 km orbit at 1820 UTC. Additional PS4 stage burns at 1901 and 1947 UTC placed the stage in a 450 km orbit.
• The PS4 has been modified to serve as a spacecraft bus for attached experiments; a 0.06 kg femtosat student payload from Space Kids India, Kalamsat-v2, is aboard to test the systems. The PSLV PS4 was expected to operate for 15 hours on its Li-ion batteries, although Kalamsat may have its own solar panels.
  

  PS-4 stage

  
  
• On Mar 27, 2019 India′s Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) launched the first PDV Mk II antisatellite interceptor from Kalam Island. After a three minute flight the missile collided with the 740 kg Microsat-R satellite in LEO. Microsat-R was in a 260 x 282 km x 96.6 deg orbit at the time, travelling north over the Bay of Bengal; PDV-II flew south from Orissa to intercept it. PDV-II is reported to be a three stage vehicle - two solid boost stages and a kill vehicle with liquid-propellant terminal guidance thrusters.
• As of Mar 31 US authorities were reporting over 250 debris pieces detected. On Apr 5, 57 of them were publicly cataloged, 13 showing apogees over 1000 km.