GOOGLE’S SATELLITE IN ORBIT

The 13 US-made small satellites were also placed in orbit. These include an Earth imaging satellite made by Terra Bella, a Googleowned company. The 110-kg Google satellite called SkySat Gen-2 is capable of taking very high resolution images and high definition video. The launch of the 20 satellites, weighing about 1,288 kg, cost about half of what is incurred by other space agencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while congratulating the scientists tweeted “20 satellites in a go! @isro continues to break new barriers.”

India’s Cartosat-2 series is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B. The images sent by Cartosat satellite will be useful for cartographic, urban, rural, coastal land use, water distribution and other applications. India is on the verge of becoming a space superpower. However, it has some major challenges as the PSLV can only launch satellites up to a weight of 1,800 kg. The currently operational Mk-II version of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) can handle payloads weighing 2,500 kg. But the GSLV Mk-III, now under development, will be capable of launching satellites weighing close to 5,000 kg.

According to market reports nearly 200 small satellites will be launched in the period 2014 to 2023 and India is perfectly positioned in this segment.