India launches 31 satellites in single space mission

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India on Friday launched 31 satellites, including an earth observation satellite, in a single space mission from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.

State-owned Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) used its most trusted rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The rocket lifted off with the Cartosat-2 earth observation satellite and 30 other satellites at 09:29 a.m. local time (0359 GMT).

The Cartosat-2 series satellite is called India's eye in the sky and weighs 714 kg. It will be providing regular remote sensing services using its panchromatic and multispectral cameras.

Cartosat-2 Series Satellite. /ISRO Photo

The imagery sent by the satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps and for geographical information system applications.

The other satellites comprise 29 nano satellites from 14 countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Chile, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Britain, and the United States.

India had earlier this month successfully launched its heaviest rocket GSLV-MKIII.

In February this year, India created history by successfully launching 104 satellites at one go, overtaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014.

(Source: Xinhua)

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