Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Jan. 12 (NT): Indian Space agency ISRO this morning successfully launched a rocket which is carrying India's 100th satellite along with 30  satellites from other nations. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV)  100th satellite ‘PSLV-C40 / Cartosat-2 Series Satellite’  launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota Island of Andhra Pradesh on Friday at 09:28 Hrs (IST) which is the 42nd flight of the PSLV. The countdown to the launch of the PSLV began at 5.29 am on Thursday.

 This flight of The 30 satellites includes two national satellites from India and 28 satellites from six nations which are Canada, Finland, France, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. The satellites will be launched in two orbits in which thirty of the satellites will be lifted off in an orbit 550 km about, and one 359-km above the Earth through the multiple burn technology. In this technology, the rocket's engine is switched off and then switched on to monitor its height.

The entire process of placing the satellites in two orbits will take 2 hours 21 minutes.

The PSLV which is 710-kg is carrying the third in the Cartosat-2 Series. The heat shield of a satellite is intended to protect it from the heat generated by the friction against atmosphere during lift-off.

ISRO's workhorse PSLV rocket has weight about 320 tonnes and stands up to 44.4 meters, which is equivalent to a 15-story building.