Chennai: India's national space agency ISRO on Monday launched five satellites from four countries from the spaceport of Sriharikota in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The launch of rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9.52 am today.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today witnessed the successful launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – PSLV-C23 from Sriharikota. In his congratulatory address at the Mission Control Centre after the landmark launch, the Prime Minister called upon the space community to proactively engage with all stakeholders to maximize the use of space science in governance and development. India must fully harness this expertise in space technology in the developmental process for social change, economic development and resource conservation, he added.
The 49-hour countdown for the launch was progressing smoothly and preparations for Mobile Service Tower withdrawal to the parking end were also under progress, ISRO said.
Speaking to ANI, former ISRO Chairman Madhvan Nair said, "PSLVC-23 launch will be a major stepping stone towards centering space commerce".
The five satellites are from four countries - France, Germany, Canada and Singapore.
Besides its main payload of 714 kg weighing French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, PSLV C23 would carry 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.
NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2 are from the University of Toronto, Institute of Aerospace Studies/ Space Flight Laboratory. Canada. Both payloads would fly in precise formation using differential GPS with centimeter-level accurate position control system.
VELOX-1 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is a technology demonstrator for design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter-satellite RF link.
The satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements that Antrix Corporation has entered into with the respective foreign agencies.
India had launched another French satellite - the 712-kg SPOT-6 in 2012. The latest in the SPOT family of satellites is the SPOT-7.
Speaking of India’s age-old ethos of the whole world being one family, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s space programme is driven by a vision of service to humanity, not a desire of power. He said India has a rich heritage of science and technology, including space.
Modi said the works of our ancestors, who included visionaries like Bhaskaracharya and Aryabhata, still continue to inspire generations of scientists. He added that India must share the fruits of its advancement in space technology with the developing world, and neighbours in particular.
PM called upon the space community to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to our neighbourhood as a gift from India.
PM Modi said we can be proud of the Indian space programme, which is fully indigenous, developed in the face of great international pressure and hurdles. He described it as a domain where “we have pushed beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence.”
He said the moon mission was inspired by the vision of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Among ongoing projects, Modi referred to the Mars Mission, and the satellite-based navigation system.
Referring to the benefits of space technology for the common man, the Prime Minister said it drives modern communication, empowers children in remote villages with quality education, and ensures quality healthcare to all, through telemedicine. He said it has a critical role in realizing the vision of a Digital India – the power of 125 crore connected Indians.
The Prime Minister said continued progress in space must remain a mission of high priority. He called for developing more advanced satellites and expanding our satellite footprint. He said India has the potential to be the launch service provider of the world and must work towards this goal.
Prime Minister called for involving India’s youth with space. Modi said he was pleased to have met the young scientists as Sriharikota, and admired their work and their achievements. He commended Dr. K. Radhakrishnan for his leadership, and said India’s space programme is the best example of his vision of scale, speed and skill. He wished the team of scientists the best as they prepare to insert our spacecraft into the orbit of Mars in a few months.
In a speech made in a combination of English and Hindi, Shri Modi spoke of the Tapasya made by generations of scientists, in a long journey from Upanishad to Upagrah. He remarked that he had met four generations of scientists during his visit to ISRO.
Andhra Pradesh Governor Narasimhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu, MoS, PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, Secretary Space Dr. Radhakrishnan, and eminent scientists Prof U R Rao, Dr. Kasturirangan were present on the occasion.
