Sriharikota:
For the first time ever, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched record number of 20 satellites in a single mission from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
Prior to this ISRO had successfully placed 10 satellites in a single mission. This was done in 2008 when it placed those satellites into various low earth orbits.
The launch of PSLV C-34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission took place at the scheduled 9:26 am from spaceport of Sriharikota.
Cartosat-2 Series is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B, and 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off would be injected into a 505-km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.
According to ISRO, the total weight of all the 20 satellites is about 1,288 kg.
The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.
The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, ISRO sources had earlier said.
(with inputs from PTI)
