WEB DESK
India will achieve yet another historic milestone with the launch of its 100th satellite along with 30 others in a single mission from Sriharikota on Friday.
The Indian Space Research Organisation said it was back in the game with the launch.
This will be the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle mission after the unsuccessful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1H in August last year.
ISRO Satellite Centre Director M Annadurai informed today that 31 spacecraft, including weather observation Cartosat-2 series satellite, will be launched by PSLV-C40. Of these 28 satellites are from abroad.
The official noted that the launch of three Indian satellites during the mission would mark the rollout of the hundredth satellite from ISRO.
Speaking to reporters on sidelines of an exhibition on ASTROSAT in Bengaluru, Annadurai said that PSLV-C40 would mark a maiden century of Indian satellites. It will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) at lift-off on Friday morning.
The co-passenger satellites include one micro and nano satellite each from India. Three micro and 25 nano satellites from six countries namely Canada, Finland, France, Republic
of Korea, UK and USA, make up the other payload.The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried on board PSLV-C40 is about 1,323 kg. This will be the third satellite in the Cartosat-2
series.
On plans for the year, Annadurai said Chandrayaan-2 was in the final stage of testing and integration of the orbiter, lander and rover, and was expected for launch this year.
