India’s space programme achieved another milestone on Sunday with the successful launch of the PSLV-C21. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh witnessing the launch from the Command Centre at Sriharikota, India’s 100th space mission took off with the comfortable, clockwork precision that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has become used to with its workhorse PSLV launch platform.
Once the mission had injected its two payloads - the French SPOT-6 satellite and Japanese PROITERES micro-satellite - into orbit with precision, the Prime Minister shook hands with ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan and the team responsible for the success and praised ISRO’s track record.
With Sunday’s launch, India has now completed 62 satellite missions, one space capsule recovery experiment and 37 launch vehicle missions.
This launch was the third wholly commercial one. The lift-off was delayed by two minutes at the end of the 51-hour countdown to avoid collision with space debris. “I am delighted at having witnessed today’s launch.
On behalf of all fellow Indians, I warmly congratulate the Department of Space and all members of the Indian Space Research Organisation fraternity for this spectacular success. As ISRO’s 100th space mission, today’s launch is a milestone in our nation’s space capabilities,” Singh said.
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