Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed scientists for the successful launch of 104 satellites on board a single rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota.
ISRO chief A S Kiran Kumar said at the mission control centre at Sriharikota that the Prime Minister has congratulated the space agency team for the successful launch.
“Congratulations to @isro for the successful launch of PSLV—C37 and CARTOSAT satellite together with 103 nano satellites!,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet.
“This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India salutes our scientists,” he said.
A landmark day for space programme: President
President Pranab Mukherjee congratulated ISRO for the record launch of 104 satellites on a single rocket, saying the day will go down as a “landmark” in the history of India’s space progaramme.
In his message to ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, the President said: “I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and your team at the ISRO on the successful launch into space of PSLV- C37, carrying a record 104 satellites.
“This day shall go down as a landmark in the history of our space programme. The nation is proud of this significant achievement, which has demonstrated, yet again, India’s increasing space capabilities,” he said.
The President asked Kumar, also the Secretary of the Department of Space, to convey his greetings to the members of his team of scientists, engineers, technologists and all others associated with this “great mission.”
“I urge ISRO to continue to strive for the progress of our space capabilities. I wish all your future endeavours great success,” Mukherjee said.
Remarkable feat, says Kasturirangan
Veteran space scientist K. Kasturirangan today hailed the record launch of 104 satellites on board a single rocket by ISRO, terming it as a remarkable feat and spectacular success demonstrating to the world India’s capability in the field.
“I admire ISRO for having did this and demonstrated to the world that we can launch more than 100 satellites in a single shot”, the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told PTI.
Among the satellites launched was a home-built earth observation spacecraft.
Kasturirangan, also former Secretary in the Department of Space and former Chairman of the Space Commission, wholeheartedly congratulated ISRO Chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar and his entire team for this spectacular success, and excellent leadership.
“It’s a remarkable feat because one who knows about what separations mean, what kind of dynamics is involved in separation and then how do you make sure that 104 of those satellites move out without touching each other, even though in space terms, it’s very close to each other, and therefore, there is precise operation that’s involved with it.
“And these kind of things from an engineering point of view and from a mathematical point of view is something which we are telling the world that we are as good as anybody can think of,” he said.
Today’s launch is a demonstration of India’s strength and ability to think to the highest level of sophistication in areas such as mathematics, science and physics, Kasturirangan said.
”...from the days of Bhaskara (satellite launched nearly four decades ago) to today, we have maintained that primacy”, he said.
“This particular launch to me is a proud demonstration of that legacy”.