ISRO successfully launches 104 satellites on a single rocket

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) create history today by launching a record 104 satellite from a single launch, when its PSLV-C37 put in the intended orbit Cartosat-2, the main payload, and 103 other co-passenger satellites from its spaceport here. All the satellites were successfully put into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

In a text book launch, the heavy duty rocked blasted off majestically from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), located in this crescent shaped island overlooking Bay of Bengal, at exactly 0928 hrs. 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. This is the 39th flight of PSLV and C37 version launched 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation. This is similar to three after Cartosat-2 series launched earlier. The other payload was 103 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 664 kg at lift-off. (UNI)