A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Photo: ISRO

Spaceflight will launch 21 spacecraft on a rideshare mission from India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center. The launch is scheduled for April 1. Payloads aboard the mission include the Astrocast-02 3U cubesat from Switzerland-based Astrocast and Flock 4a, 20 next-generation Dove satellites from Planet. This launch represents Spaceflight’s eighth launch on a PSLV and with the completion of this mission, the company will have sent 95 spacecraft to orbit aboard PSLVs.

Spaceflight successfully launched the first test satellite of Astrocast’s Internet of Things (IoT) Nanosatellite Network on its SSO-A dedicated rideshare mission in December 2018. Astrocast’s network of 64 cubesats aim to extend the reach of two-way communications to the 90 percent of the globe currently not covered by cellular networks. In what is Planet’s first launch of 2019, Flock 4a will join its current constellation of more than 100 Doves, replenishing the on-orbit fleet and providing upgrades to its imaging chain to improve image sharpness, radiometric consistency and spectral precision.

“PSLV missions continue to offer a reliable and proven launch option for our customers,” said Spaceflight Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Curt Blake.“By working with Antrix/ISRO and a wide range of vehicle providers, we are uniquely positioned to offer the greatest number of launch options to our customers. Having greater flexibility in launches can minimize the negative impacts of delays which is especially valuable for organizations launching multiple spacecraft.”