ISRO SETS WORLD RECORD

Space agency ISRO today scripted history by successfully launching a record 104 satellites, including India's earth observation satellite, on a single rocket from the spaceport here. This is the highest number of satellites ever launched in a single mission. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37 blasted off at 9:28 AM from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and first injected Cartosat-2 series satellite into orbit followed by the other 103 nano satellites, including 96 from the U.S, in a gap of about 30 minutes. As the scientists at the Mission Control centre broke into cheers, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman A S Kiran Kumar announced: "All 104 satellites successfully placed in orbit. My hearty congratulations to the entire ISRO team for the wonderful job they have done."
Earlier, the Russian Space Agency had launched 37 satellites in one go. ISRO had earlier launched 23 satellites in a single mission in June 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Team ISRO for the successful launch. In today's complex mission after the end of 28-hour countdown, the PSLV-C37 injected the 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite followed by ISRO's nano satellites INS-1A and INS-1B in an 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). This was followed by launch of the other 101 nano satellites of overseas customers in blocks in a series of separations.
INS-1A and INS-1B will carry a total of four different payloads from Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) of ISRO for conducting various experiments, ISRO said. Cartosat-2 series satellite, with a mission life of five years, will send images that would cater to coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring, distribution of water, creation of land use maps among others.

Of the 101 co-passenger satellites, 96 belong to USA, five from international customers of ISRO including Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates. The nano-satellites belonging to international customers are being launched as part of the arrangement between international customers and Antrix Corporation Ltd (ANTRIX) the commercial arm of ISRO. Kiran Kumar also said that ISRO was enabling the MARS Orbiter Mission to survive a long eclipse duration after which it would function for at least 2-3 years unless "we encounter any more difficulties". "Now we are targeting GSLV MkII and then Mk III...a series of launch activities planned to ensure like last year this year also we have many exciting events coming," he added. PSLV-C37 Project Director B Jayakumar said it was a "great moment for each and everyone of us. It is confirmed all 104 satellites have been successfully deployed in the orbit. So far ISRO has launched 226 satellites out of which 179 are from foreign nations." He said launching 104 satellites onboard a single rocket was a complex mission. "But our teams came up with very good solutions. The integration part are also done very well by our team. it is enjoyable mission and excellent team work.." Satish Dhawan Space Centre Director P Kunhi Krishnan said the launch clearly reiterated ISRO's capability in handling complex missions very professionally. ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director K Sivan said it was a matter of national pride that the country had launched 104 satellites in one go using PSLV. "It is one of the toughest missions we have handled," he added.

WORLD MEDIA LAUDS ISRO SUCCESS

India has emerged as a "key player" in a growing global commercial market for space- based surveillance and communication, world media commented today after the country scripted history by successfully launching 104 satellites using a single rocket. ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37 today injected India's weather observation Cartosat-2 Series satellite and 103 nano satellites, including 96 from the US, into orbit after a textbook lift-off from Sriharikota space centre. The launch was "another success for the Indian Space Research Organisation, which is rapidly gaining a reputation globally for its effective yet low-cost missions," The Washington Post said, noting that India has already sent up dozens of satellites, including 20 at once last year. The New York Times said that by sending a flock of 104 satellites into space within minutes, nearly tripling the previous record for single-day satellite launches and establishing India as a "key player" in a growing commercial market for space-based surveillance and communication. "The launch was high-risk because the satellites, released in rapid-fire fashion every few seconds from a single rocket as it traveled at 17,000 miles an hour, could collide with one another in space if ejected into the wrong path," the paper noted. "Forget the US versus Russia. The real space race is taking place in Asia," CNN commented. London's Times newspaper reported that by today's feat, India has reinforced its ambition to join the elite space- faring nations. Many of India's landmark missions have cost far less than their equivalents in Russia, Europe and the US. Isro's Mars mission cost USD 73 million, compared with Nasa's Maven Mars launch, which came in at USD 671 million, the British paper pointed out. UK's Guardian newspaper, commented that the record- breaking space launch will help India to cement its place as a serious player in the burgeoning private space market. "India, which became just the sixth nation to launch its own rocket in 1980, has long made space research a priority. The Indian government has increased the budget for its space programme this year and also announced plans to send a mission to Venus," the British paper said. The BBC, quoting observers, said today's space success was a "sign that India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market." "The successful launch is yet another feather in the cap of India's ambitious space programme that has earned a reputation of offering a reliable low cost alternative to existing international players," it said. Over the past two decades, India has become a key player in the lucrative commercial space market offering a low-cost alternative, the British public broadcaster said. China's state-run media took note of India's success in the space sector. "India created history by successfully launching 104 satellites in a single space mission, breaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014, Xinhua news agency reported.