Indian Space agency ISRO achieve an another major milestone on Friday with the launch of the Cartosat-2 satellite and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg). In the history of Indian space agency, this was the 100th satellite launched by ISRO.
This was ISRO's 42nd mission and was successfully lifted by the ISRO's trusted workhorse The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or ‘PSLV-C40'. The lift-off took place at 9.28 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Today’s launch also marks the first launch for ISRO in 2018 following the unsuccessful mission of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H last year.
This launch event witness the launch of 31 satellites in total from countries including India and six other countries. The 31 satellites lifted off by PSLV-C40 was consists of a Cartosat-2 satellite from India and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) from 6 other countries. By this launch, ISRO has set another example of space cooperation.
The Cartosat 2 is a surveillance satellite and is the third satellite in the Cartosat-2 series. The Cartosat 2 was part of India's 100th satellite and was placed into sun-synchronous orbit according to ISRO. ISRO had successfully launched Cartosat-2 Series satellite on June 22, 2016. It is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B.
The images sent by Cartosat-2 series satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps and change detection to bring out geographical Land Information Systems and Geographical Information System applications.
The other 30 co-passenger satellites launched along with Cartosat-2 comprise one micro and nano satellite each from India as well as three micro and 25 nanosatellites from six countries — Canada, Finland, France, Korea, the United Kingdom and United States of America. The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kgs.
It was the first mission for ISRO in 2018 and its success means a lot to the nation. After the unsuccessful launch of IRNSS-1H in August last year, this mission signifies a bright future ahead for the Indian space agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several other proud Indians tweeted their best wishes to the team.
PM @narendramodi warmly congratulated @isro and his entire team on successfully launching 31 satellites including Cartosat-2 on the launch of the 100th satellite said that this achievement reflects India's bright future in the field of space and The country has been proud of it.— Narendra Modi Office (@namo_office) January 12, 2018
Congratulations to @isro for creating history yet again. Your hard work and dedication has made India the pioneer of space program.— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 12, 2018
PSLV-C40 Successfully Launches Cartosat-2 Series Satellitehttps://t.co/bTZaQRjLmo— ISRO (@isro) January 12, 2018
A proud moment for every Indian: #ISRO Successfully launches its 100th Satellite: #PSLVC40 rocket carries #Cartosat2 and 30 other Micro & Nano Satellites from US, Canada & other nations in single mission. My heartiest congratulations to @isro Team and its scientists.— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 12, 2018
#ISRO Successfully Launches 100th Satellite #Cartosat-2 Series From Satish Dhawan Space Centre At #Sriharikota. Congrats On Century, Thank You For Making Us Proud. 💪🙏🇮🇳 #PSLVC40 #PSLV pic.twitter.com/3p6SgsRf7L— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 12, 2018
#ThisDayInHistory marks a historical moment in #India’s Space Programme. In its first mission of 2018, #ISRO successfully launched its #100th satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. #HistoryMaker #PSLV pic.twitter.com/XXpczLpbqI— HISTORY TV18 (@HISTORYTV18) January 12, 2018
A great milestone indeed and a giant leap in space.
Way to go, ISRO!
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