Sidhartha ShuklaMoneycontrol
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set a new record yesterday when it successfully launched a PSLV-C37 rocket carrier with 104 satellites on board a single rocket from Sriharikota.
Like the Indian Mangalyaan mission launched in 2014, the feat has made jaws drop across the world for the effective and efficient project execution that it has required.
ISRO not only beat its previous best of sending 20 satellites in to the orbit in a single launch but also beat the previous record held by Russia (37 satellites in one go in 2014) by a huge margin.
This achievement brought domestic and international praise for the Indian space agency, which has recently start taking bigger steps to conquer uncharted cosmic frontiers.
History in the Picx: 1963:: ISRO staff transporting the nose cone of a rocket on bicycle at Thumba, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/wUgMSDsifdRelated stories
— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) February 15, 2017
1981 :: ISRO Scientists Carry India's First Communication APPLE Satellite on Bullock Cart pic.twitter.com/FXaJ21tM64— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) February 15, 2017
Indian scientists have always excelled in the art of 'jugaad' -- an inexpensive and ingenious solution.
Back in 1981, when it wanted to test the range of the antenna range on the first communication satellite, APPLE, scientists got it carried on a bullock cart instead of on a truck. This was because the metallic shell of truck would have hampered with test results.
Also watch: ISRO rocket's spectacular selfie as its 104 satellites detach
Global media also hailed the launch and acknowledged India as one of the major players in a growing commercial market for space surveillance and communication.
"Forget the US versus Russia. The real space race is taking place in Asia," CNN said.
"The launch was high-risk because the satellites, released in rapid-fire fashion every few seconds from a single rocket as it traveled at 17,000 miles an hour, could collide with one another in space if ejected into the wrong path," the New York Times said.
UK's Guardian wrote: "India, which became just the sixth nation to launch its own rocket in 1980, has long made space research a priority. The Indian government has increased the budget for its space programme this year and also announced plans to send a mission to Venus."
ISRO also received praisefrominventor,innovator and competitor Elon Musk. Replying to a tweet the ownerofSpaceXsaid:
@Floydilicious Yeah, awesome achievement by ISRO. Very impressive!— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 16, 2017
Ravi Shastri: That went like a rocket! https://t.co/Jkf9rt9UD7— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) February 15, 2017
Ek hi baar mein poore Ek Sau Chaar.
Congratulations #ISRO for launching a record 104 satellites in a single mission.#ProudIndian pic.twitter.com/rJDjuRAOW4— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 15, 2017
THE BEST #isro vs #NASA pic.twitter.com/E96wcAXMc1— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) June 24, 2016
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