After the successful launch of CARTOSAT-3, along with 13 US nano-satellites on November 27, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s total count of the launching foreign satellites in the last 20 years has reached 310.

Isro’s newly formed commercial arm NewSpace India ltd has a big role in the achievement. The most memorable foreign satellite launch from ISRO’s platform was in 2015 when 104 satellites. The indigenous Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV) rocket which carries satellites has been “the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle” for Isro.

Of the 104 satellites, 101 were foreign satellites, one was the earlier generation of Cartosat-2 and two nano-satellites belonged to ISRO. This launch still holds world record for most satellites launched in one go. 

The Indian space agency launched its first foreign satellite, Germany’s remote sensing microsatellite DLRTUBSAT,  on May 26, 1999, from Sriharikota. Of the 33 countries Isro launched satellites, the US stood on top with 190 satellites. Other countries who have been the satellite customer for ISRO are Germany, Canada, UK, Singapore, Algeria, and Korea. 

Last year, the United Kingdom’s NovaSar and S1-4 together carried by PSLV weighed 445kg. This is till now the heaviest foreign satellite payload carried by PSLV in one go. It was also the first time, that the mission had no indigenous satellite. 

After yesterday’s launch, ISRO – chairman K Sivan mentioned that ISRO will be executing 13 missions before March 2020. The missions include six launch vehicle missions and seven satellite missions.

What Is CARTOSAT- 3?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Isro for the successful CARTOSAT-3 mission. The satellite was the first mission after the Chandrayaan 2 mission, which failed to soft-land on the moon.

CARTOSAT-3 is a third-generation agile satellite with high-resolution imaging capabilities. ISRO also mentioned that CARTOSAT-3 has many new technologies/elements like highly agile structural platform, payload platform, higher rate data handling and transmission systems, advanced onboard computer and new power electronics, dual gimbal antenna and others.

The satellite will replace the IRS series floating in space. The CARTOSAT-3 is considered to be a huge leap in comparison to previous payloads. The satellite weighing 1,600 kilograms has a panchromatic resolution of 0.25 metres to take sharp images. The images taken from the satellite will help in urban planning, rural resource, and infrastructure development. The mission life of CARTOSAT-3 is expected to be for the next five years.

Also Read: ISRO Launches Cartosat-3 Satellite With High-Resolution Imaging Into Space