Creating a world record, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on February 15 launched 104 satellites in a single flight of PSLV-C37 from the Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. India has become the first country to launch these many satellites in one go. Earlier, the Russian Space Agency had the record of successfully launching 37 satellites. Of 101 co-passenger satellites, 96 belong to USA, five from International customers of ISRO — Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, respectively.
As launching of PSLV-37 is indeed a proud moment for the country, here are top ten things you need to know about it:
- The PSLV-C37 is 44.4 metres tall and is the heaviest in PSLV series with a weight of 320 tonnes.
- The PSLV rocket is a four stage rocket alternatively powered by solid and liquid fuel.
- Out of the total 104 satellites placed in orbit, 101 satellites belonged to six foreign countries. They included 96 from the US and one each from Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Kazakhstan.
- Earth-mapping Cartosat 2 series satellite is the main satellite in the group which weighs around 714 kg.
- PSLV vehicle first launched its satellite Cartosat-2 and then with a distance of about 520 km from the Earth, 103 of its co-passengers were put in polar Sun Synchronous Orbit
- The total weight of all the satellites carried on-board is approx 1,378 kg.
- 90 satellites are of a San Francisco-based company, Planet Inc are named as ‘Doves’.
- The ‘Dove’ satellites will be used to image the earth at low cost.
- Exactly at 9.28 a.m. the PSLV-C37 was lifted off from Sriharikota .
- Before India, it was Russia holding the record of launching as many as 37 satellites in one go in 2014.
