In yet another space milestone, the Indian Space Research Organisation today placed advanced weather satellite SCATSAT-1 and seven other satellites in orbits in its longest and most complex mission till date.
Earlier, the space agency launched PSLV-35 carrying eight satellites which was to be placed in two orbits from Sriharikota today.
"#PSLV C-35 carrying India's SCATSAT-1 and 7 other satellites lifts off from spaceport of Sriharikota,"PTI reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the space agency for its incredible achievement.
President Pranab Mukherjee also congratulted team ISRO for the stupendous feat.
The 37th Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV was launched from Sriharikota carrying 8 satellites - three from India, three from Algeria, and one each from Canada and the US.
It will also put into space PISAT, a nanosatellite developed by PESU, in collaboration with SKR Engineering College, Chennai; Sona College of Technology, Salem; Veltech University, Chennai and Nehru College of Engineering, Thrissur. PISAT will take snapshots of Earth, with the focus on India. The Institute of Engineers has also played its part in bringing together all these colleges.
The mission saw launch of SCATSAT-1, developed by ISRO, that will carry on ocean and weather related studies.
It is for the first time that agency will be making commercial use of its own multiple burn technology which relates to the switching off and switching on of a rocket's engine in space.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director K. Sivan also told IANS that the 48 and half hour countdown for the launch of Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that would carry the eight satellites is progressing smoothly at the rocket port Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The twin-orbit manoeuvre was recently accomplished by European Space Agency's Vega rocket.
Countdown began on at 8.42 a.m on Saturday and the rocket is expected to blast off at 9.12 a.m. on Monday.
Notedly, this is the first mission of PSLV in which it will be launching its payloads into two different orbits.
It be launched from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota at 9.12 AM on September 26, it said.
In its 37th flight, India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C35, will launch the 377 kg SCATSAT-1 for ocean and weather related studies and seven co-passenger satellites into Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
The co-passenger satellites are from the US, Canada and Algeria besides from Indian Universities. While SCATSAT-1 will be placed into a 720 km Polar SSO, the two Academic Institute Satellites and the five foreign satellites will be placed into a 670 km polar orbit, the space agency said.
