ISRO created history by releasing large number of satellies into the orbit. This is a great achievement for India.In 18 minutes, all 104 satellites were released into space, each travelling at the speed of over 27,000 km per hour – 40 times the speed of an average passenger airline.
India’s workhorse rocket PSLV-C37 is on its 39th mission. Among the 104 satellites are many belonging to international customers.This is the heaviest version of the PSLV, weighing about 320 tonnes at lift-off and standing tall at 44.4 meters.
The main passenger is the Earth-mapping Cartosat 2 series satellite, which weighs 714 kg.The smaller satellites belong to the US, Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates will be launched. 96 of the satellites belong to the US.
Close to 90 small satellites named ‘Doves’ belong to one San Francisco-based company, Planet Inc. The Dove constellation will be used to image the earth at low cost.
Two ISRO-made Nano satellites belonging to international customers were also launched. They weigh about 1,378 kg.The PSLV first launched the Cartosat-2 and then its 103 co-passengers into the polar Sun Synchronous Orbit, about 520 km from the Earth.
In 2014, the Russian Space Agency has launched 37 satellites in one go.
This is ISRO’s second successful attempt after the launch of 23 satellites in a single rocket in June 2015.
