ISRO to launch record 20 satellites today

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set for a historic launch of 20 satellites, including 17 foreign payloads, using its flagship rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C34 from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikotta at 9.26 a.m. on Wednesday.

The launch vehicle will lift off with India's Cartosat 2 series satellite meant for earth observations as the primary payload and 19 other micro and nano satellites.

As per reports, the 48-hour countdown that began on Monday morning for the launch is progressing smoothly.

ISRO is set to make two unique records on Wednesday - the launch of an unprecedented 20 payloads in a single mission from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

The mission would long for 26 and a half minutes by which time all satellites will be put into a polar synchronous orbit of 505 km height one by one.

Later, the fourth stage engine of the rocket is going to be subjected to a complex experiment by re-igniting it twice to check for its ability to launch many satellites at different heights in a single mission.