Watch the incredible moment an Indian rocket releases over 100 satellites into space in a new world record
- The rocket carried a big satellite for Earth observation and 103 'nano satellites'
- Russia held the previous record after launching 39 satellites at once in 2014
- On board were 88 satellites belonging to a tech start-up hoping to capture an image of the entire Earth every day
In a new world record, India's space agency successfully launched 104 satellites from a single rocket yesterday morning.
Stunning new footage taken from the rocket shows the moment it blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.
The latest achievement surpasses Russia, the previous record holders, who launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014.
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Hundreds of microsatellites were launched from the rocket. The latest achievement surpasses Russia, the previous record holders, who launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carried a 714 kilogram main satellite for Earth observation and 103 smaller 'nano satellites'.
Together this weighed a combined 664 kilograms.
Nearly all of the nano satellites are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the US, said the state-run ISRO.
'All 104 satellites were successfully placed in orbit,' the Press Trust of India news agency quoted ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar as saying.
The video shows the moment that the payload was intially deployed from the spacecraft shortly after takeoff
The video also shows the moment the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle released the 714 kilogram main satellite
Stunning new footage taken from the rocket shows the moment it blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota
They included an Indian Earth observation satellite.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the 'remarkable feat by ISRO is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation.'
Among the satellites launched were 88 small satellites belonging to Planet Inc, a technology startup in San Francisco.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carried a 714 kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller 'nano satellites'
HOW THE DOVES WILL FLY
The solar powered, shoebox-sized Dove satellites are each equipped with radio antennas that allow them to communicate with ground station on Earth multiple times a day, according to Planet. They also have an array of optics and sensors, including a main camera that captures images at 3-5 meter resolution
Planet's new satellite constellation has two components - the small, cheaply made Dove satellites, and the larger Terra Bella satellites.
This will allow them to capture medium resolution images daily, along with higher resolution views to track particular moments or changes.
The fleet of 88 new Dove satellites will be combined with the 12 satellites of Flock 2p to create a 100-satellite 'line scanner' that will work with the firm's RapidEye satellites to capture daily images of the entire Earth.
Planet has also obtained Terra Bella, adding their SkySat constellation of seven satellites to the fleet.
The SkySat craft can capture high-resolution color and near-infrared. It achieves 90 centimeter resolution, and has a two-dimensional sensor array equipped with a proprietary image filter
The new fleet will be combined with the 12 satellites of Flock 2p to create a 100-satellite 'line scanner' that will work with the firm's RapidEye satellites to capture daily images of the entire Earth
The solar powered, shoebox-sized Dove satellites are each equipped with radio antennas that allow them to communicate with ground station on Earth multiple times a day, according to Planet.
They also have an array of optics and sensors, including a main camera that captures images at 3-5 meter resolution.
These craft photograph the surface continuously, and complete an orbit roughly every 90 minutes.
And, their ‘star camera’ allows for the correct positioning of the image on Earth.
The SkySat craft can capture high-resolution color and near-infrared.
It achieves 90 centimeter resolution, and has a two-dimensional sensor array equipped with a proprietary image filter.
With this, the craft can capture multiple frames per second, which are later stitched together on the ground.
At an altitude of 310 miles (500 kilometres) the 88 satellites will be combined with 12 satellites already in the skies as part of Flock 2p to create a 100-satellite 'line scanner.'
This will work with the firm's RapidEye satellites to capture daily images of the entire Earth in a breathtaking 50 trillion pixels.
The craft are expected to be fully operational by this coming summer, according to The Atlantic.
India has been striving to become a player in the multibillion-dollar space launch market, and has successfully placed light satellites into orbit in recent years. It hopes to eventually send astronauts into space.
Among the satellites launched were 88 small satellites belonging to Planet Inc, a technology startup in San Francisco. Pictured is an image of San Francisco bay taken from one of the firm's satellites already in orbit
At an altitude of 310 miles (500 kilometres) Planet's 88 satellites will be combined with 12 satellites already in the skies as part of Flock 2p to create a 100-satellite 'line scanner.' Pictured is an image taken by one of the firm's satellites already in orbit
The rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota said India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Nearly all of the nano satellites inside the rocket (pictured) are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the US
In September 2014, India successfully guided a spacecraft into orbit around Mars. Only the United States, the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency had been able to previously do that.
The business of putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is growing as phone, Internet and other companies, as well as countries, seek greater and more high-tech communications.
India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market, and is known for its low-cost space programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the 'remarkable feat by ISRO is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation'
The latest spate of satellite launches are part of the country's drive to gain a larger slice of the lucrative commercial space launch industry
These images of earth (left) and Mars (right) are taken from India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would be carrying a 714 kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller 'nano satellites'
Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US.
It sent an unmanned rocket to orbit Mars in 2013 at a cost of just £59 million ($73 million), compared with NASA's Maven Mars mission which had a £538 million ($671 million) price tag.
Before this launch, India had already launched 79 satellites from 21 countries, including satellites from big companies like Google and Airbus.
The rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota. India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market, and is known for its low-cost space programme
Phobos, one of the two natural satellites of Mars silhouetted against the Martian surface, captured by the Mars Colour Camera onboard India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft
This has earned India at least £125 million ($157 million), according to government figures.
ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has often hailed India's budget space technology, quipping in 2014 that a rocket that launched four foreign satellites into orbit had cost less to make than Hollywood film 'Gravity'.
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