Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-23 was successfully launched from Sriharikota Space Centre in Nellore district at 9.52 am today.
After a perfect lift-off from the First Launch Pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.52 am witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Space Research Organisation’s workhorse PSLV-C23 placed all the five satellites into their intended orbits, one after the other between 17 and 19 minutes after liftoff.
The rocket standing around 44.4 meters tall and weighing around 230 tons tore into the bright morning skies with orange flames fiercely burning at its tail. The rocket’s main luggage is the 714 kg French earth observation satellite SPOT-7. In addition this, four small satellites 14-kg AISAT of Germany; NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) from Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7-kg VELOX-1 of Singapore were also placed in the orbit.
‘Global endorsement of India’s space capability’
Speaking after the successful launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt that PSLV’s successful launch filled every Indian’s heart with pride. “I can see it reflected in the joy and satisfaction on your faces”, he said, adding it was a ‘privilege’ to witness the event and congratulated the space scientists for the successful launch. “We have successfully placed 67 satellites in space orbits through PSLV rockets. With the successful launching of PSLV C-23, Indian stands behind the super powers in space technology”, the Prime Minister felt.
The Prime Minister said, “Truly it is a global endorsement of India’s space capability. India’s current Mars Mission cost less than the budget of the Hollywood science fiction film “Gravity”, he added. He also said PSLV C-23’s successful launch of foreign satellites was a “global endorsement of India’s space capability”.
AP Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, space scientists and other invitees at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) rocket mission control room eagerly watched the rocket launching.
CBN, KCR CONGRATULATE ISRO SCIENTISTS
Expressing joy over the successful launch of PSLV C-23, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao has congratulated the ISRO scientists and exuded confidence that ISRO would also cross such success miles stones in the future.
AP Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has congratulated the scientists of ISRO for their yet another successful launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-23 today at the SHAR space station, Sriharikota in Nellore district.
Describing the 25th successful launch of the PSLV rocket by the ISRO scientists with indigenously developed technology, as a major milestone in the space program of India, Naidu said the country was proud of their stellar achievement and putting India in the global space club.
The Chief Minister said the space technology and the satellites could be used to promote peace and betterment of mankind besides harnessing nature and globalise research and higher education. He said the Andhra Pradesh government was keen on coordinating with ISRO exploit the indigenously developed technologies for betterment of agriculture and healthcare in the State.
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