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It was the most
satellites India has put in space at one go, though Russia set
the record of 37 for a single launch in 2014.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the launch as "a
monumental accomplishment" for the state-run Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
Modi is bullish about India's space research program and has
repeatedly praised the efforts of scientists who two years ago
pulled off a low-cost mission to send a probe to orbit Mars that
succeeded at the first attempt.
The launch of PSLV-C34, carrying 20 satellites in a single
payload including the Cartosat-2 series satellite and 19
co-passenger satellites, was like "allowing birds to fly in
space", ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar said.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV is India's workhorse
launch vehicle, and has so far successfully carried 113
satellites, of which 74 were for international customers, ISRO
said on its website.
Of the satellites launched on Wednesday, all except three are
for international customers, with the United States accounting
for more than half.
(Reporting by Malini Menon; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Simon
Cameron-Moore)
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