The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched eight small satellites into two different orbits in space on board its workhorse launch vehicle, the PSLV. This was the first time ISRO launched satellites into two different orbits on the same flight. “With today’s launch, the PSLV’s capability to launch satellites into two different orbits has been successfully demonstrated,” ISRO said.

“In its thirty-seventh flight (PSLV-C35), ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 371-kg SCATSAT-1 satellite along with seven co-passenger satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.

The mission, lasting two hours, 15 minutes and 33 seconds, was one of the longest for the PSLV. The main satellite on board, the SCATSAT-1, will provide weather forecasting services “through the generation of wind vector products as well as cyclone detection and tracking. Among the other satellites was Pratham, weighing 10 kg, and PISAT, weighing 5.25 kg. The two satellites were built along with students from IIT-Bombay and PES University, Bengaluru, and a consortium.

Indian Space Research Organisation

The Indian Space Research Organisation is the space agency of the Indian government headquartered in the city of Bangalore. Its vision is to “harness space technology for national development”, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

Formed in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in 1962 by the efforts of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and his close aide and scientist Vikram Sarabhai. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised space activities in India.^[2] It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.