Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse rocket PSLV created a record today by launching 104 satellites in a single mission from the space centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV, in its 39th flight (PSLV-C37), launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664 kg at lift off.
A big chunk of those space probes — 88, in fact — belong to Planet, a US private imaging company with high ambitions of continuously monitoring the Earth from space.
Speaking on the record launch, ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar had earlier said the aim was to maximise the capability with each launch and it was not to set a record.
“We are not looking at it as a record or anything like that; we are just trying to maximise our capability with each launch, in trying to utilise that launch for the ability it has got and getting the maximum return,” he had said.