Benefits from Launching of Foreign Satellite Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched 20 satellites in a single launch mission onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 on June 22, 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. In this mission, 17 foreign satellites (total weighing 555 kg) from 4 countries viz. Indonesia, Germany, Canada and USA were launched as co-passenger along with Indian primary payload CARTOSAT-2 series of satellite (weighing 727 kg) and 2 University/academic institutes satellites (weighing 2.5 kg) namely SWAYAM (College of Engineering, Pune) & SATHYABAMASAT (Sathyabama University, Chennai) as co-passenger. In this launch mission, the primary objective was to launch Indian CARTOSAT-2 series of satellite (weighing 727 kg) and the spare capacity available on launch vehicle was used to launch 17 foreign satellites (total weighing 555 kg) on a commercial basis. This has benefited the Government in reducing the cost of launching Indian satellite. As of now, there are no approved programmes leading to space station activities. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
