ISRO’s space platform POEM-3 achieves all payload objectives, set to re-enter Earth

ISRO said POEM-3 flew with nine payloads from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Physical Research Laboratory, academia, and space start-ups.

By: Express News Service

Updated: January 28, 2024 08:15 AM IST

2 min read

ISRO, POEM-3, ISRO’s space platform, POEM-3 payload objectives, PSLV Orbital Experimental Module, PSLV rocket, XPoSat, Indian express news

After achieving all objectives, more experiments with POEM-3 are planned for generating data for future missions. (Representational image/PTI)

After achieving the objectives of all experiments onboard, the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module based on the last stage of the PSLV rocket that carried XPoSat to space on New Year’s day is likely to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up within the next 75 days. This will ensure that the mission leaves no debris, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

The agency on Saturday also announced that its meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS has been sent off to Sriharikota from U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, where it was developed. The mission is likely to be launched mid-February onboard GSLV.

To cut down on space debris, ISRO has been taking steps such as lowering the orbit of defunct satellites and last stages of the rockets, and removing excess fuel since last year.

In fact, the orbit of POEM-3 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3) was lowered from 650 km to 350 km after the space observatory XPoSat was placed in orbit to reduce the time the platform remains in orbit.

The space agency said that the platform had completed 400 orbits by the 25th day. During this period, each of the nine experiments were put to operation and their performance determined. The experiments include the Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT) developed by LBS Institute of Technology for Women to study the comparison between solar irradiance and UV index, a radiation shielding experiment, an amateur radio, three propulsion systems by space start-ups, and an interplanetary dust count experiment by Physical Research Laboratory. Two types of fuel cell systems developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre were also onboard.

One of the fuel cells that uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and releases heat and water as bi-product is expected to be a precursor for energy systems required for a space station. The cell system is ideal for human missions in space because the heat and water generated as bi-products are also essential, meaning a single system can meet multiple requirements of the mission. India has targeted setting up a space station in the low Earth orbit by 2035.

So far, on three POEM platforms, ISRO has flown a total of 21 experiments.

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