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The Indian Space Research Organisation's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C23 was launched successfully from the first launch pad of Sriharikota space station, located about 100 km North of Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior ministers witnessed the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Here are five things to know about the launch:
1) The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the first operational launch vehicle of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). It has a capability to launch 1,600 kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1,050 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer orbit. In the standard configuration, it measures 44.4 m tall, with a lift off weight of 295 tonnes, according to Isro.
2) The PSLV-C23 has carried a 714 kg French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7 as its main payload while a 14 kg satellite called AISAT of Germany, two 15 kg satellites from Canada CAN-X4 and CAN-X5 and seven kilogram Singapore satellite called VELOX-1 as piggyback payload on the flight.
3) The five satellites were launched under commercial arrangements that ANTRIX (ISRO’s commercial arm) entered into with foreign agencies.
4) PSLV helped India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun synchronous orbit. Till then, India was relying on Russian services for the launch.
5) Two important missions -- Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission --- which placed India in an elite club, were launched using PSLV.
