ISRO PSLV-C37 launch: How international media covered the launch of record 104 satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is grabbing headlines for its outstanding achievement of sending more than 100 satellites into orbit, a feat which has not been achieved by any other country yet. ISRO is being hailed across the world for setting a new record of launching huge number of satellites atop a single rocket.

In a proud and historic moment for India, ISRO blasted-off 104 satellites at a single go on Polar its workhorse Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37 rocket at 9:28 am on Wednesday, breaking the previous record held by Russia of 37 satellites with a huge margin. The launching took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. 

Rest of the satellites belonged to foreign countries and have agreements with ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix Corporation.

The PSLV-C37 first placed the Cartosat-2 series satellite into orbit and then the other 103 satellites were injected in a gap of about 30 minutes.

96 out of these belonged to the US. Out of these 96, 88 are from the start-up, Planet Labs, a San Francisco-based earth imaging company, while one satellite each is from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Kazakhstan and the UAE. 

The successful launch has caught the attention of foreign media. The Washington Post called the launch another success for ISRO and said the Indian space agency is earning a global reputation for its low-cost missions. Here is how the international media reported it.

The Washington Post

India just launched a record-breaking 104 satellites into space atop one rocket

“In India’s space center on the barrier island of Sriharikota, the white-jacketed scientists held their breaths. The country’s trusty red-and-white satellite launch vehicle had lifted off moments before and blasted into orbit. Wednesday’s launch was another success for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which is rapidly gaining a reputation globally for its effective yet low-cost missions. India had already sent up dozens of satellites, including 20 in one launch last year.”

The New York Times

India launches 104 satellites from a single rocket, ramping up a space race

“Wednesday’s launch was being watched closely by firms that place satellites in orbit, because India’s space agency charges substantially less than its competitors in Europe and North America, said C. Uday Bhaskar, the director of the Society for Policy Studies, a public policy research group based in New Delhi. India is fascinated with world records, and Wednesday’s satellite launch prompted a wave of celebratory crowing, some of it aimed at Asian rivals. Many declared it a “century,” a term for a cricketing milestone when a single batsman manages to score 100 runs in a single innings.”

The Wall Street Journal

India breaks record for launching most satellites from single rocket

“India’s space agency on Wednesday launched a record 104 satellites from a single rocket as it crossed another milestone in its low-cost space-exploration program. The satellites from seven countries were carried by the Indian Space Research Organization’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on its 38th consecutive successful flight.  The mission reinforces India’s emerging reputation as a reliable and cost-effective option for launching satellites. In 2014, ISRO put a satellite into the orbit of Mars, becoming the first Asian country to reach the red planet at fraction of the cost of a similar launch in US and Europe.”

The Independent

India launches world recod 104 satellites into space in single mission

“India has successfully launched 104 satellites in a single mission, setting what its space agency says is a world record of launching the most satellites at one go. Of the 104, 101 are foreign satellites to serve international customers as the South Asian nation seeks a bigger share of the $300 billion global space industry. Modi is bullish on India’s space programme and has repeatedly praised the efforts of scientists who three years ago pulled off a low-cost mission to send a probe to orbit Mars that succeeded at the first attempt. Out of 101 nano-satellites, 96 were from the United States and one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.”

The Sunday Guardian

ISRO scores 100 and is going strong

“The Indian establishment, since the beginning, had decided that the country’s space programme would be civilian in nature. It had to overcome various challenges for establishing its space infrastructure. It did not have any experience, exposure or expertise to start a space programme. Developing a space programme was easy for other countries because they already had a developed missile programme. But this was not the case with India.The country was not in a position to support any major programme, financially. At the global level, India’s space programme has received much respect, but at the same time, when compared to other Asian space giants such as China and Japan, India has to achieve much more. Because of its failure in developing cryogenic engines, India is still not in a position to launch heavy satellites. India can undertake hardly one to two launch missions in one year, while China in 2011 undertook 19 rocket launches, thereby putting 21 satellites in space. This is helping them attract more international customers for commercial satellite launches. China is also using its space expertise for diplomatic gains. It is assisting a few African and Latin American nations (obviously because of oil and mineral interests) with their space dreams.”

DAWN

India launches record 104 satellites in one go

“India successfully launched 104 satellites in a single mission on Wednesday, setting what its space agency says is a world record of launching the most satellites at one go. Of the 104, 101 are foreign satellites to serve international customers as the South Asian nation seeks a bigger share of the $300 billion global space industry.”

Global Times

India successfully launches 104 satellites in single space mission

“India should be proud of its achievements, Chinese state media said on Thursday, pointing out gaps such as lack of a manned mission. “On the whole, India’s space technology still lags behind the US’ and China’s. It has not yet formed a complete system,” the nationalist tabloid Global Times wrote.”