Setting a record in its space programme, India today successfully launched 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission on board ISRO's workhorse PSLV-C34 from the spaceport here.
In a precision launch, PSLV-C34 took off from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 110 km from Chennai at 9.26 AM and placed the Cartosat-2 Series and 19 others in the designated polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) about 30 minutes later in clear skies.
The 727.5 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite will provide regular remote sensing services with its panchromatic and multispectral cameras and its imagery will be of multiple use.
Of the 19-satellites, 12 are earth imaging "Dove satellites" of USA and another American satellite. The rest are from Canada (two) and one each from Germany and Indonesia.
Two academic satellites are from Sathyabama University (Sathyabamasat) in Chennai and from College of Engineering (Swayam) at Pune.
Use of Cartosat 2 includes cartographic, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitoring and water distribution.
Also, creation of land use maps, precision study,change detection to bring out geographical and man-made features and various other Land Information System and Geographical Information System applications can be done. It is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO and described today's launch as a "monumental" accomplishment.
"20 satellites in a go! @ isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment', he said on Twitter.
ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar congratulated his team for the successful launch 'in a record time' and said "PSLV C-34 has done its job."
"We have the current generation of earth observation satellite of Cartosat 2 series," he said, adding ISRO had done a "wonderful job".
P Kunhikrishnan, Director, SDSC-SHAR, said that it was a major accomplishment by PSLV in its 35th consecutive successful mission.
"PSLV has become a success symbol for ISRO and India. ISRO is adopting more and more professionalism," he said.
D Jayakumar, Mission Director,described today's launch as a major landmark and said that the vehicle performance was "exceedingly well.
This is the 14th flight of PSLV in "XL" configuration
known for its capacity to carry more load which uses 'solid strap-on motors'.
The total weight of all the 20 satellites carried onboard PSLV-C34 is about 1288 kg.
India has 11 operational earth observation satellites, including RESOURCESAT-1 and 2, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2 are in orbit.
Beginning in 1988, ISRO had launched many remote sensing satellites (for earth observation) and the data are for varied use including agriculture, water and ocean resources besides disaster management.
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Project Mission Director B Jayakumar said initially there was a little hesitancy in taking up 20 satellites in one go.
"Our team ISRO could resolve it," he said, adding the order of precision was perfect and what ISRO achieved today showed it has enough expertise.
"With this we can make commitment for any complex type of missions and launch still larger number of satellites in a single mission that much expertise is available."
Project Director, Cartosat 2 Series, Satyanand Rao said Cartosat 2 satellite was the fourth in the "Cartosat-2 family" which would have panchromatic and multispectral colour images in four bands. This was also the first satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing series with a new technology 'Time Delayed Integration Mode of Operation', enhancing imaging efficiency and imagine modes with respect to our earlier missions."
He said the satellite data would "enhance lot of areas of applications" in the cartographic realm in terms of rural and urban development communication networking and new area precision farming in the coming days.
"The satellite is going to complete all its calibration activities and subsequently it will be ready to deliver data to users," he said.
