Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today created a world record when it comes to launching satellites. It has successfully launched the PSLV-37 rocket which put in to orbit a record 104 satellites from seven countries.
Using the time-tested and popular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), ISRO surpassed its personal best of sending up 20 satellites in one go and looks to zoom ahead in the commercial space race.
ISRO successfully launched 104 satellites including Cartosat-2 onboard PSLV-C37 at 9:28 AM this morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
In a text book launch, the heavy duty rocked blasted off majestically from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre. All the satellites were successfully put into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.
Exactly 17 minutes of the launch, Cartosat-2 was separated and a minute later the two ISRO nano satellites were put in the intended orbit. Little later the other 101 nano satellites were injected into intended orbit in pairs.
Apart from the 714 kilogram main satellite for earth observation, the satellite is carrying 103 “nano satellites” from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the United States.
Russia held the previous record when it launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014. Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US. ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates ISRO on the successful launch mission. He said in his tweet: “This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India salutes our scientists. Modi said he spoke to the Secretary, Department of Space and congratulated him and the entire team of scientists on today’s “exceptional achievement.”
