The PSLV-C17 carrying latest communication satellite GSAT-12 was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Friday

The Hindu The PSLV-C17 carrying latest communication satellite GSAT-12 was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Friday. Photo: K. Pichumani

Living up to its reputation as ISRO’s versatile workhorse, India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Friday completed its 18th successful mission in a row with the launch of communication satellite GSAT-12 from here.

It was a special mission for ISRO as the agency used the most powerful ‘XL’ configuration for today’s launch - similar to the one used for the successful Chandrayaan-I, India’s moon mission in 2008.

Replicating its uninterrupted success, the PSLV has yet again demonstrated India’s capabilities in the multi-billion dollar global commercial launch market.

This is for the second time that PSLV has been used for launching a communication satellite after Kalpana-1 in 2002.

Barring the lone failure of PSLV-D1, the first developmental flight, on September 20, 1993 the succeeding 18 flights have proved successful.

Since 1994, the PSLV, designed and developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, has launched a total of 45 satellites, including 25 foreign spacecrafts.

The ‘XL’ version used six extended solid strap on motors with each strap-on carrying 12 tonnes of solid propellant as against nine tonnes in the standard version.

With its variant configurations, PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch and its geosynchronous launch capability.

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) completed its 18th successful mission in a row with the launch of communication satellite GSAT-12 today. Following is the chronology of PSLV missions: Vehicle Satellite Date Status PSLV-C17 GSAT-12 July 15, 2011 (Successful) PSLV-C16 RESOURCESAT-2, YOUTHSAT and X-SAT April 20, 2011 (Successful) PSLV-C15 CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, NLS 6.1/6.2 STUDSAT July 12, 2010 (Successful) PSLV-C14 Oceansat-2 and 6 nanosatellites Sept 23, 2009 (Successful) PSLV-C12 RISAT-2 and ANUSAT April 20, 2009 (Successful) PSLV-C11 CHANDRAYAAN-I October 22, 2008 (Successful) PSLV-C9 CARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 and 8 nano-satellites April 28, 2008 (Successful) PSLV-C10 TECSAR January 23,2008 (Successful) PSLV-C8 AGILE April 23, 2007 (Successful) PSLV-C7 CARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-TUBSAT, PEHUENSAT-1 Jan 10, 2007 (Successful) PSLV-C6 CARTOSAT-1, HAMSAT May 5, 2005 (Successful) PSLV-C5 RESOURCESAT-1(IRS-P6)October 17, 2003 (Successful) PSLV-C4 KALPANA-1(METSAT) September 12, 2002 (Successful) PSLV-C3 TES October 22, 2001 (Successful) PSLV-C2 OCEANSAT(IRS-P4), KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT May 26, 1999 (Successful) PSLV-C1 IRS-1D September 29, 1997 (Successful) PSLV-D3 IRS-P3 March 21, 1996 (Successful) PSLV-D2 IRS-P2 October 15, 1994 (Successful) PSLV-D1 IRS-1E Sept 20, 1993 (Unsuccessful) PTI VIJ VS