ISRO Launches Brazil's First Indigenous Satellite.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Brazil's Amazonia-1 satellite on Sunday. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C51 mission carried the earth observation satellite along with 18 co-passenger satellites, including a nanosatellite from ISRO, three UnitySats by an academic consortium, and a demonstration satellite by another start-up, Pixxel (incorporated as Syzygy Space Technologies).

The PSLV-C51 lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Center at 10:24AM IST, or 7:54AM Saudi Arabia Time.

The ISRO mission was built around sending Brazil's 637-kg Amazonia-1 satellite into space, which is the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India and is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)."This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory," an ISRO statement said

"In this mission, India and ISRO, feel extremely proud, honoured and happy to launch the first satellite designed, integrated and operated by Brazil. I congratulate the Brazilian team for this achievement. The satellite is in very good health and I congratulate all for this and compliment the entire Brazilian team," ISRO) chief K Sivan said after the launch event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and called the mission historical in space cooperation.

"Congratulations President Jair Bolsonaro on the successful launch of Brazil's Amazonia-1 satellite by PSLV-C51. This is a historic moment in our space cooperation and my felicitations to the scientists of Brazil,"

he wrote on Twitter.

Sources- Hindustan Times.