The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched three satellites into orbit, marking the the nations' 100th launch, and 37th large rocket, according to Flightglobal Ascend's Spacetrak database.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully lofted SPOT 6, a French commercial imagery satellite, and Proiteres, a Japanese-built research microsatellite. The flight also carried an experimental avionics payload called "Mresins" attached to the vehicle's fourth stage.
It is the PSLV's 21st launch.
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India is in the midst of a major push to strengthen its spaceflight capabilities. The nation has, within the past four years, become competitive in the commercial launch market and begun launching scientific probes beyond Earth orbit.
Under construction is the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) III, the nation's largest launch vehicle yet designed to put 4,400kg (9,700lb) into Earth orbit.
The next planned flight, scheduled for launch before the end of the year, will orbit a joint Indian-French ocean altimetry satellite.
Source: Flight International
