President, PM Modi congratulate ISRO for successful launch of SCATSAT-1

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated the Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of SCATSAT-1 and 7 co-passenger satellites.

In a tweet, President Mukherjee extended his hearty congratulations to the space agency for launching PSLV C35 carrying eight satellites.

In his tweet, Prime Minister Modi said it's a moment of immense joy and pride for the country as ISRO scientists keep scripting history. The Prime Minister said, their innovative zeal has touched the lives of 125 crore Indians and made India proud worldwide.

ISRO on Monday successfully launched its satellite SCATSAT-1 for ocean and weather related studies from Sriharikota.

Carrying the 377 kg SCATSAT-1 and seven other satellites, India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C35, lifted off from ISRO's first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.12 AM.

This is the the first mission of PSLV in which it launched its payloads into two different orbits. The co-passenger satellites were from the US, Canada and Algeria besides from Indian Universities.

ISRO's SCATSAT-1 can generate accurate data on wind patterns over the ocean surface. It is a continuity mission for the Oceansat-2, which has exhausted its operational life. The expected lifespan of SCATSAT-1 is expected to be five years.

The seven other co-passengers in today's mission included three small satellites from Algeria meant for earth observation, remote sensing and technology demonstration, a commercial high resolution imaging micro-satellite of an US agency, the nano-satellite NLS-19 of Canada to experiment on reduction of space debris and two nano-satellites of IIT, Bombay and the PES University, Bengaluru.