ISRO successfully launches 20 satellites from its Sriharikota space centre

Setting a record in its space programme, India today successfully launched 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission onboard ISRO's workhorse PSLV-C34 from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

In a precision launch, PSLV-C34 took off at 9:26 am from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 110 km from Chennai at 9.26 AM and placed the Cartosat-2 Series and 19 others in the designated polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) about 30 minutes later in clear skies.

The 727.5 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite will provide regular remote sensing services with its panchromatic and multispectral cameras and its imagery will be of multiple use.

Of the 19-satellites, 12 are earth imaging "Dove satellites" of USA and another American satellite. The rest are from Canada (two) and one each from Germany and Indonesia.

Two academic satellites are from Sathyabama University (Sathyabamasat) in Chennai and from College of Engineering (Swayam) at Pune.

Use of Cartosat 2 includes cartographic, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitoring and water distribution.

Also, creation of land use maps, precision study, change detection to bring out geographical and man-made features and various other Land Information System and Geographical Information System applications can be done. It is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B.

According to the space research organisation, the total weight of these satellites is about 1,288 kg.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO and described today's launch as a "monumental" accomplishment.

"20 satellites in a go! @ isro continues to break new barriers. hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment', he said on Twitter.

ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar congratulated his team for the successful launch 'in a record time' and said "PSLV C-34 has done its job."

"We have the current generation of earth observation satellite of Cartosat 2 series," he said, adding ISRO had done a "wonderful job".

P Kunhikrishnan, Director, SDSC-SHAR, said that it was a major accomplishment by PSLV in its 35th consecutive successful mission.

"PSLV has become a success symbol for ISRO and India. ISRO is adopting more and more professionalism," he said.

D Jayakumar, Mission Director,described today's launch as a major landmark and said that the vehicle performance was "exceedingly well."

The 48-hour countdown for the launch began on Monday morning. This is the highest number of satellites launched by ISRO at a time. In 2008, it had sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission.  

Features of the Cartostat-2 Series satellite:

Satellite Mass: 727.5 kg
Orbit type: Circular Polar Sun Synchronous
Orbit Height: 505 km
Orbit inclination: 97.48 degrees
Design life: 5 years

• ISRO
• 20 Satellites in single launch
• Sriharikota
• Andhra Pradesh
• Indian Space Research Organisation
• PSLV C-34
• Cartosat-2 Series