India Launches 100th Space Mission Successfully
Posted on: 10/Sep/2012 10:04:32 AM
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the verge of a historic century as it gears up for its 100th indigenous mission on sunday. The space agency`s old warhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), will blast off into space with two foreign satellites from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The mission was described as "a spectacular success" and a milestone by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who keenly watched the entire launch sequence and applauded each stage separation culminating in the placing of the two satellites in orbit.
The launch was a landmark for Indian Space Research Organistion (ISRO) which began its space odtssey on a humble note when it launched the indigenous `Aryabhatta` on board a Russian rocket on April 19, 1975.
If all goes as per plan, India plans to launch, in 2013, its maiden mission to Mars. Called Mangalyaan, it will be an unmanned orbiting mission to study the atmosphere of the Red Planet. Dr Radhakrishnan says "work is going on at a feverish pace for this mission that will reinforce India`s national pride".
In the next five years, ISRO is also scheduled to have nearly 60 more missions.
