104 SATELLITES !

Amazing.  In Sriharikota at 10am on Wednesday, the 15^th February 2017, Indian Space Program made History by successfully deploying as many as 104 satellites in Orbit- a feet not accomplished by any other country so far.  It began at 9.28 am with a thunderous lift off of the advanced version of four stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (P.S.L.V.) designated as PS C-37 at Satish Bhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.  ISRO’s previous highest was 20.  Russia had recorded 37 Satellites.  Now ISRO had broken all records by sending 104 Satellites launched using a single rocket.

104 Satellites consisted of 3 Indian Satellites of 714 Kg cartosak-2 series Satellites along with 2 other Indian satellites and 101 International co passengers which were Nano and Micro Satellites.  The total weight of all the 104 Satellites was 1378kgs.  This is the real space race.  With this India emerged as a ‘Key Player’ in a growing global commercial market for space based surveillance and commercial category.

New York Times said by sending a flock of 104 Satellites into space ISRO established India as a ‘Key Player’ in a growing commercial market for space based programs.  ISRO is now looking at an orbiter to Venus, besides a second mission to Mars with its MOM mission. The Orbiter to Venus will be the true qualitative quantum leap to whip up scientific excitement. 

As a world leader in inter planetary exploration including landing a rover on Mars, Masa’s willingness to collaborate signals is the ultimate acceptance of Isro’s premier position as a technology to explore the vast expanse of space and to do so without letting cost go through the roof.  ISRO can boast of even greater qualitative achievements, besides its excellent safety records with PSLV making it the world’s most reliable launch vessel. 

India Salutes our scientists.