First comes the PSLV C-28 mission bearing three UK satellites. The launch date has been fixed tentatively for July 10
PSLV, the 44 m tall vehicle with a lift off mass of 295 ton, is configured as a four stage vehicle with alternate solid and liquid propulsion stages. The first stage carries 139 ton of solid propellant, which is usually augmented by six 9 ton or 12 ton solid propellant strap-on motors for heavier payloads. The second stage uses the indigenously developed Vikas Engine which carries 40 ton of liquid propellant. The third stage is a 7 ton solid motor encased in a composite motor case while the fourth stage is a liquid stage with a twin-engine configuration that carries 2 ton liquid propellant. The satellite is housed in a payload adaptor module and is protected during the atmospheric ascent phase by a heat shield of 3.2 m diameter.
