India launches Cartosat-2 with 31 satellites

People watch as Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifts off successfully from Sriharikota with a record 104 satellites, including the country`s earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 series; at Marina Beach, Chennai on 15 Feb 2017.
People watch as Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifts off successfully from Sriharikota with a record 104 satellites, including the country`s earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 series; at Marina Beach, Chennai on 15 Feb 2017.

India on Friday launched a polar rocket Cartosat-2 with 31 satellites, including three Indian and 28 of six other nations from its spaceport here.

The 44.4-metre tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) roared into a clear sky after a perfect lift-off at 9.29 a.m. after a 28-hour countdown.

The 320-tonne rocket will eject the satellites one-by-one and deploy them into the earth's lower orbit about 17 minutes and 18 seconds after the lift-off.