The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO's) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C23 today successfully lifted off from the first launch pad of Sriharikota space station, situated about 100 kms North of Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The launch vehicle PSLV-C23, with a height of 44.4 metres and a vehicle lift-off mass of 230 tonne, is carrying SPOT-7, a 714 kg, French earth observing satellite as the main payload, which will be injected into a 655 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Other satellites include 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) & NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.
There had been 25 consecutive successful flights of PSLV till April 2014 and this is the 26th such launch.
During his first visit to the facility, the Prime Minister took a tour of the facilities, including the launch pad.
He was also briefed by ISRO scientists, headed by ISRO's Chairman K Radhakrishnan, on Sunday.
ISRO earlier delayed the launch by three minutes due to the threat of space debris getting into the way of the satellites.
The PSLV C23 lifted off from the spaceport at 9.52 am instead of 9.49 am as decided when the launch plan was announced.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The launch vehicle PSLV-C23, with a height of 44.4 metres and a vehicle lift-off mass of 230 tonne, is carrying SPOT-7, a 714 kg, French earth observing satellite as the main payload, which will be injected into a 655 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Other satellites include 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) & NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.
There had been 25 consecutive successful flights of PSLV till April 2014 and this is the 26th such launch.
During his first visit to the facility, the Prime Minister took a tour of the facilities, including the launch pad.
He was also briefed by ISRO scientists, headed by ISRO's Chairman K Radhakrishnan, on Sunday.
ISRO earlier delayed the launch by three minutes due to the threat of space debris getting into the way of the satellites.
The PSLV C23 lifted off from the spaceport at 9.52 am instead of 9.49 am as decided when the launch plan was announced.