World

India launches record 20 satellites in single mission

Last month India successfully launched its first mini space shuttle as it joined global race to make reusable rockets

Afp June 22, 2016

bystanders look on as indian space research organisation 039 s isro navigation satellite irnss 1g on board the polar satellite launch vehicle pslv c33 is launched from sriharikota in the southern indian state of andhra pradesh on april 28 2016 photo afp

Bystanders look on as Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) navigation satellite IRNSS-1G, on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C33) is launched from Sriharikota in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on April 28, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: India successfully launched Wednesday a rocket carrying a record 20 satellites as its famously frugal space agency looks to grab a larger slice of the lucrative commercial space market.

The rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota carrying satellites from the US, Germany, Canada and Indonesia, the most in a single Indian mission.

India's mini space shuttle blasts off

Most of the satellites will enter orbit to observe and measure the Earth's atmosphere, while another aims to provide service for amateur radio operators.

"Each of these small objects that you are putting into space will carry out their own activity, which is independent of the other, and each of them will live a wonderful life for a finite period," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman A.S Kiran Kumar told the NDTV news network.

The business of putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is growing as phone, Internet and other companies as well as countries seek greater and more high-tech communications.

India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market, and is known for its low-cost space programme.

Among the 20 satellites launched on Wednesday were 13 from the US including one from a Google-owned company and two from Indian universities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the 20-satellite record as a "monumental accomplishment", although it trails Russia's 33 record launched in 2014 and NASA's haul of 29 the year before.

"Our space programme has time and again shown the transformative potential of science & technology in people's lives," Modi tweeted.

Our space programme has time and again shown the transformative potential of science & technology in people's lives.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2016

20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2016

Over the years we developed expertise & capability to help other nations in their space initiatives. This is the skill of our scientists.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2016

Saw with immense joy that students from institutions in Pune & Chennai played a role in the making of satellites. This touched me.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2016

Last month India successfully launched its first mini space shuttle as it joined the global race to make reusable rockets.

The shuttle was reportedly developed on a budget of just one billion rupees ($14 million), a fraction of the billions of dollars spent by other nations' space programmes.

India gets homegrown satellite navigation system

India in 2013 sent an unmanned rocket to orbit Mars at a cost of just $73 million, compared with NASA's Maven Mars mission which had a $671 million price tag.

The successful mission was a source of immense pride in India, which beat rival China in becoming the first Asian country to reach the Red Planet.

Modi has often hailed India's budget space technology, quipping in 2014 that a local rocket that launched four foreign satellites into orbit had cost less to make than Hollywood film "Gravity".

COMMENTS (24)

Amit Mandal | 8 years ago | Reply If u are to progress,You have to accept ur current position...

cbing | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: Again cannot be done in 3-4 years. I listed those examples because a country with all its developed ecosystem for building rockets, scientists, institutions, established companies need a decade to design, develop, manufacture, and launch a rocket, let alone making it reliable. Even you said about the SUPARCO scientist, think you can launch in 3-4 years. Yes, India did not invent rockets, or spacecraft, so did NASA or USA. You guys seem to be very proud of assembling JF-17s. But you didn't invent aeroplanes, or fighters, or jet engines or even a glider for that matter. I know this is a way for you to cope up with your failures. But at least do that not being so obvious.

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Anuj | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider Thats your frustration getting the best of you. And what are you manufacturing? Where should I read about it? You get everything from China, you can't pay for F-16s so you get used F-16 from Turkey, used clothes and used cars. Everything that comes to Pakistan is second hand and that's your reality. And keep insisting, for truth will always be hard for you to digest.

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply Time for Pakistan to buy from China, paint it green and restore the strategic balance.

Insider | 8 years ago | Reply @Anuj: First go and read what Pakistan is manufacturing and what it can manufacture. This pin thing was true in 1960s. @cbing: okay not in 1 year, then in 3-4 years may be. And I insist and it is true, India did not invent anything here.. Period !!

Anuj | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider When you're yet to manufacture a pin on your own you don't talk about who's getting technological assistance and help. Every help in little things comes from either China or US. Even if I believe you for once, atleast we pay for the help we get and don't ask for subsidies and loans like in the case of F-16s.

Haramullah Fattuddin | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: Yeah, dear I liked your confidence. But only difference is, this confidence is without any logical substance.

G. Din | 8 years ago | Reply @SHAH: @Another Indian: It not only filled him with disappointment, he was also heart-broken at the superlative success of his "enemy". Won't you be disappointed and heart-broken, too, under similar circumstances? Be fair!

cbing | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: Dude, I really wish you are kidding. Launch rocket in one year? You need at least three years to evev build a space port and pad to launch one. The great experienced rocket engine companies like Aerojet etc takes at least 5-6 years just to develop an engine, let alone launching and rating it reliable. The great ULA which launches some of the most reliable launchers like Atlas, Delta is developing Vulcan from 2012 which will b ready to launch only in 2020s. Arainespace with 72 consecutive successful launches of Ariane5 is developing Ariane 6 since 2013, which will be ready to launch only by 2020's again. Even if you decide to buy everything off the shelf and paste it together you need at least 5 years to launch it. It seems the SUPARCO scientist and you have same level of knowledge about launch vehicles, and building one.

Kulbhushan Yadav | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: Russia with 34 , NASA with 27 and ISRO with 20 satellite in one launch. Now which other country has achieved it?? I think you need to know the difference between a satellite launch and a RPG launch.

Vineeth | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: No country can simply initiate a space program and start launching useful payloads 'in a year'. Check out the trouble Iran and North Korea have been having in recent times, and that too in attempts to launch tiny 10 kg satellites. Space program is a long haul of many decades and the path is riddled with failures. India is where she is now because she went through it during the past decades.

Priya | 8 years ago | Reply @Insider: Don't belittle others achievements. If Afganistan coils it then surely by ligic by hasnt UAE, Turkey other rich islamic country achieve this feet. Give credit where due. There is no assistance or tech transfer. This is Indian scientist's brain and hardwork. Eg chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, own GPS system, interceptor missile now this and many more. How many countries from 196 nations have reached such feet or Mars in first attempt? India is first one, and also first in Asia to reach Mars. Not even China or US ally -JAPAN or South Korea could achieved it.

Insider | 8 years ago | Reply Congratulations India !! But in today's world, launching satellites is not a big deal. You can get assistance, help and technology transfer from advanced countries. India hasn't invented the space program or the satellites, they have implemented it. If Afghanistan wishes to launch their satellites they can do it in less than a year. But look at us, our priorities are so pathetic and naive, we do not want to progress or invest in the areas that will steer the future. We are pathetic to the core. I once met a "highly" technical person at SUPARCO, and oh my God. Even my primary school teacher will be better than her !!

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 8 years ago | Reply A heartiest congratulations to India. India on a roll indeed...

SHAH | 8 years ago | Reply @Another Indian: Fail to understand why disappointment... Actually, its a great achievement and another milestone covered. My Pakis-tan should also learn and do development work for the betterment of mankind, rather than criticize efforts of Hindus-tan;

Anamika | 8 years ago | Reply Oh no ! We will get another statement from Mr.Sartaj Aziz that the "strategic balance" will be affected by this launch.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @Another Indian: "Now, how on "earth" is this a huge disappointment?" No pun intended LOL!!!

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @Another Indian: He means that since no one commented on this post that's why he's disappointed. He probably made that comment before any other comment was posted for everyone to see.

cherian | 8 years ago | Reply We are really proud of our engineers and scientists. Keep on going

Another Indian | 8 years ago | Reply @Faisal... Now, how on earth is this a huge disappointment?

harkol | 8 years ago | Reply ISRO is easily one of the top 3 or 4 space organizations in the world. The only Indian govt. owned organization Indians can be truly proud of. It is an island of excellence.

Faisal | 8 years ago | Reply No comments, a huge disappointment.

Haramullah Fattuddin | 8 years ago | Reply Really a great feat. Congratulation India for 36th successful launch of PSLV.

mohan | 8 years ago | Reply well done india

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