The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-D3) was the third developmental flight of PSLV and marked India’s first successful launch of an operational remote sensing satellite. It demonstrated ISRO’s growing capability in precision satellite deployment.
Launch Date: 21 March 1996
Launch Vehicle: PSLV-D3 (Third developmental flight)
Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
Payload: IRS-P3 (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite)
Payload Mass: 930 kg
Orbit: 807 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Mission Duration: 17 minutes to reach orbit
Outcome: Successful
- First Fully Successful PSLV Mission
The first PSLV flight (PSLV-D1, 1993) failed due to a software issue.
The second flight (PSLV-D2, 1994) successfully reached orbit but carried an experimental payload.
PSLV-D3 was the first mission to successfully deploy an operational Indian satellite.
- IRS-P3: Enhancing India’s Remote Sensing Capabilities
IRS-P3 carried oceanographic and land observation instruments to aid in resource mapping and environmental monitoring.
It provided high-resolution images for applications like agriculture, forestry, and disaster management.
- Paved the Way for Future PSLV Missions
Showcased PSLV’s reliability and accuracy in placing satellites into precise orbits.
Led to the first operational PSLV mission (PSLV-C1) in 1997, which launched IRS-1D.
The success of PSLV-D3 and IRS-P3 proved ISRO’s ability to independently launch and operate high-quality remote sensing satellites, establishing PSLV as India’s most dependable launch vehicle. This mission laid the foundation for PSLV’s role in future space exploration, including Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, and commercial satellite launches.
