Cross sections show the 20 satellites carried by ISRO's PSLV C-34 rocket, including the Cartosat-2 Earth-observation satellite. (Credit: MIB)
On June 22, 2016, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched 20 satellites from its PSLV C-34 rocket. The main payload was ISRO's Cartosat-2 Earth-observation satellite, while other payloads included Indonesia's LAPAN-A3 microsatellite, Canada's M3MSat maritime-monitoring microsatellite, 12 Flock-2P Dove smallsats, and two student-produced satellites.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the launch via Twitter, writing 20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers. Hearty congratulations to our scientists on the monumental accomplishment.
Cartosat-2 data will be used for cartographic applications such an urban and rural land-use mapping, coastal monitoring, and utility and road management. The expected mission life of the satellite is five years.
