In a copybook launch on an overcast Sunday morning, Isro’s workhorse PSLV placed in orbit France’s Spot-6 satellite and the Japanese craft Proiteres some 18 minutes after a perfect liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, completing its 100th successful launch.
The 44-metre Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle took off on its 22nd flight into the overcast skies carrying the French satellite with a liftoff mass of 712 kg, the heaviest to be launched by India for an international client, and the 15-kg Japanese micro-spacecraft.
Spot-6 is an earth observation satellite, while Proiteres is intended to observe Japan’s Kansai district through a high-resolution camera.
The launch was cheered by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a congregation of ministers, MPs, officials and scientists at the Shar Centre mission control room. “I am delighted to witness today’s launch of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 carrying foreign satellites. On behalf of all fellow Indians, I warmly congratulate the department of space and all members of the Isro fraternity for this spectacular success of Isro’s 100th mission. Today’s launch is a milestone in our nation’s space capabilities,” said Dr Singh.
The Prime Minister also congratulated EADS Astrium of France and Japan’s Osaka Institute of Technology for the successful launch of their satellites. He said the launch of these satellites on board an Indian launch vehicle was testimony to the commercial competitiveness of India’s space industry and a tribute to its innovation ingenuity.
A jubilant Isro chief, Dr K. Radhakrishnan, congratulated the space organisation’s scientists and introduced them to the Prime Minister.