April 01, 2026 06:54 pm (IST)
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PSLV-C34 successfully launches 20 satellites in a single flight
Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, June 22 (IBNS): Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C34), on its 36th flight, successfully launched the 727.5 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 19 co-passenger satellites, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday.
President Pranab Mukherjee said on twitter, "Heartiest congratulations to ISRO Team on successful launch of PSLV-C34 carrying a record 20 satellites."
"20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment," PM Narendra Modi tweeted while ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar said Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has 'done its job'.
In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide remote sensing services using its panchromatic (black and white) and multi spectral (colour) cameras.
The imagery sent by the Cartosat-2 series 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, precision study, change detection to bring out geographical and man made features and various other Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) applications.
This is the 35th consecutively successful mission of PSLV and the fourteenth in its 'XL' configuration.
The total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on-board PSLV-C34 was 1288 kg.
After PSLV-C34 lift-off at 0926 hrs IST from the Second Launch Pad with the ignition of the first stage, the subsequent important flight events, namely, strap-on ignitions and separations, first stage separation, second stage ignition, heat-shield separation, second stage separation, third stage ignition and separation, fourth stage ignition and cut-off, took place as planned.
After a flight of 16 minutes 30 seconds, the satellites achieved a polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 508 km inclined at an angle of 97.5 degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit) and in the succeeding 10 minutes, all the 20 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage in a predetermined sequence, informed ISRO.
After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite were deployed automatically and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore took over the control of the satellite.
Of the 19 co-passenger satellites carried by PSLV-C34, two – SATHYABAMASAT weighing 1.5 kg and SWAYAM weighing 1 kg – are University/Academic institute satellites and were built with the involvement of students from Sathyabama University, Chennai and College Of Engineering, Pune, respectively.
"Witnessed with immense pride and delight the brilliant moments on TV & took photos for my Instagram account," PM Modi tweeted further.
"As a common citizen, was totally immersed in happiness to see our youngsters excelling & taking so much interest in science.
"Saw with immense joy that students from institutions in Pune & Chennai played a role in the making of satellites. This touched me.
"Over the years we developed expertise & capability to help other nations in their space initiatives. This is the skill of our scientists," he posted.
The remaining 17 co-passenger satellites were international customer satellites from Canada (2), Germany (1), Indonesia (1) and the United States (13).
With today’s successful launch, the total number of satellites launched by India’s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV has reached 113, of which 39 are Indian and the remaining 74 from abroad.
N Chadrababu Naidu, CM, Andhra Pradesh, tweeted, "Another landmark achievement by @isro for launching 20 satellites in a single mission. Truly inspiring and commendable."
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