India on Monday successfully placed an Italian astronomical satellite into orbit, marking its entry into an exclusive group of nations conducting commercial space launches, officials said.
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the 352kg Italian satellite Agile atop its rocket, the PSLV-C8 from the Sriharikota spaceport, located 80km north of the India’s southern city of Chennai.
Twenty-two minutes after the lift-off, the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) inserted the satellite into a 550km equatorial orbit, causing jubilation amongst Indian and Italian scientists at Sriharikota.
The Italian satellite, costing $59-million, will be used to search for black holes and gather information about the origins of the universe.
Besides the Agile, the PSLV also placed into orbit an Advanced Avionics Module, weighing 185kg, to test advanced launch vehicle avionics systems like mission computers, navigation and telemetry systems.
With Monday’s successful launch, India became the fifth country to enter the global commercial launch market. Only the United States, Russia, China and France offer commercial satellite launch services in a market that is estimated at $2,5-billion every year. — Sapa-dpa