ISRO launches 7 satellites in 20 mins

Bangalore, Sep 23: ISRO created history by successfully launching India's 16th remote sensing satellite, Oceansat-2, and six European nano satellites into orbit through its space carrier Plar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in just twenty minutes.

The 44.4-metre tall, 230-tonne Indian rocket PSLV freed itself from the launch pad at the spaceport at 11:51 am and lifted itself up, carrying the 960-kg Oceansat-2 and the six nano satellites all together weighing 20 kg.

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ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said, "The launch was successful." He also said that he is "extremely proud to reach the target on time."

He also congratulated expressed gratitude to his colleagues and said that it would have 'not been possible without my team'.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed his congratulations for the successful launch, Nair said.
1:01 PM

ISRO to launch 7 satellites in 20 mins

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which will place into orbit Oceansat-2 along with six European nano satellites.

Speaking about the preparations a day before the launch, ISRO spokesman S Satish said, "The countdown is progressing well. The launch window is between 11:51 am (1151 hrs IST) and 12:06 pm (1206 hrs IST) Wednesday, Sep 22. The weather forecast is clear."

India's 16th remote sensing satellite, Oceansat 2 and the six nano satellites will be launched from the Sriharikota spaceport.

Out of the six European satellites, four are from Germany and one each from Switzerland and Turkey.

Oceansat 2, which will be replacing Oceansat 1, will help identify potential fishing zones, sea-state forecasting, coastal zone studies, weather forecasting and in climate studies.

ISRO will be launching all seven satellites in a span of 20 minutes. This falls only second to the Apr 2008 launch when ISRO launched 10 satellites.

10:36 AM

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