Bengaluru: Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV C49 rocket will be launched today from Sriharikota, its first mission since months of multiple lockdowns owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what you should know about today's launch. 

The rocket's primary payload is India's radar imaging satellite EOS-01, formerly RISAT-2BR2 with synthetic aperture radar that can shoot pictures in all weather conditions. This new 'eye in the sky' will boost the military’s surveillance capability from space. The nine foreign satellites include a technology demonstrator from Lithuania, 4 maritime application satellites by Kleos Space in Luxembourg and 4 American Lemur multi-mission remote sensing satellites.

This will be the 51st mission of Indian Space Research Organisation's trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Post this launch, ISRO would have slung a total of 328 foreign satellites. After this launch, ISRO is aiming to launch the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, which will be a vehicle-on-demand made especially for satellite customers.