The Indian space agency ISRO has launched eight satellites from one rocket into two different orbits today. It is the longest and most complex mission till date.

The 37th Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV, carrying eight satellites includes three from India, three from Algeria, and one each from Canada and the US. It successfully lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 9:12 AM.

This launch was challenging because most countries launch satellites in a single orbit. Even if multiple satellites have been injected, but it is in a sequential manner in the same orbit. The twin-orbit manoeuvre had been recently accomplished by European Space Agency's Vega rocket.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr AS Kiran Kumar told, "This is a challenging two-in-one mission which puts India in a unique league of nations having the capability to achieve two different orbits in a single mission”.

17 minutes into the launch, the PSLV will drop off the Indian weather satellite SCATSAT at an altitude of 730 km. After this, the seven remaining satellites will be dropped at a height of 689 km.

The mission will also test PSLV's multiple burn capability which will be utilized in the last leg and will set a new milestone for ISRO. The whole procedure has been expected to be completed within 2 hours and 15 minutes, the longest mission undertaken by ISRO.

The stop-start of the rocket, while travelling at a speed of more than 2660 kmph - positions PSLV as a unique launcher in the multi-billion dollar commercial launch market. Dr K Sivan, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center said, "It will open up new vistas to commercialise ISRO's launch capabilities for two-orbit configurations” .

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By Prakriti Neogi