PSLV-C42 successfully carried and deployed 2 Earth observation satellites in Sun-synchronous orbits at an altitude of 588 kilometres (365 mi).

The two international satellites were launched as part of a commercial arrangement between Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corporation Limited, run under the auspices of the Indian Government's Department of Space.

[3] Arrangements for the launch of the two satellites were made between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corporation Limited, under the auspices of the Indian Government's Department of Space, and SSTL.

[9] "The PSLV-C42 marks the latest technology and commercial collaboration between India and the UK with the launch of the combination of high resolution optical and radar (SAR) satellites from us," said Martin Sweeting, group executive chairman of SSTL.

[4][10] Many centres of ISRO were involved in this mission: the rocket was designed and developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thiruvananthapuram in India; the liquid engines for the second and fourth stages were developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Thiruvananthapuram and ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri; the rocket's guidance system was developed by ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) at Thiruvananthapuram; while the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR) assumed the responsibility for solid motor preparation, vehicle integration and launch infrastructure.

[4] NovaSAR is an S-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, designed and built in Guildford, United Kingdom by SSTL.

[11][12] It has a distinctive cheese grater shape, and is capable of taking pictures of earth's surface irrespective of weather conditions, day or night.

[11][13] The major application areas of the satellite includes urban planning, land classification, management of natural resources, agriculture and disaster monitoring.