Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C38 (PSLV-C38) has launched a 712kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for Earth observation as well as 30 other satellites.
The 30 satellites collectively weigh 243kg at lift-off into a 505km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
The PSLV-C38 was launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).
This is the 17th flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration with solid strap-on motors.
The 30 co-passenger satellites comprise 29 Nano satellites from 14 countries, including Austria, France, Slovakia, the UK and the US.
One nano-satellite was made by students of Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
The 29 international nano-satellites were launched as part of the commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation (Antrix), a company under the Department of Space (DOS), which is the commercial unit of ISRO, and the international customers.