Indian Rocket Launches 10 Satellites Into Orbit

Bangalore, India — India launched a rocket that placed 10 satellites in orbit, including those developed by German and Canadian organizations, boosting its efforts for an unmanned moon mission.

Two Indian satellites and eight "nano-satellites" belonging to overseas customers were placed in a sun synchronous orbit, the Indian Space Research Organization, the country's premier space agency, said in a statement.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off from the southern Indian space station at Sriharikota at 9:24 a.m. local time, carrying CARTOSAT-2A, an Indian remote-sensing satellite that weighs about 1,500 pounds. Cameras mounted on CARTOSAT-2A are capable of distinguishing between objects on earth separated by one meter, the organization said.

India, which is planning unmanned moon and Mars missions, is aiming to tap the global satellite-launching industry dominated by the America, Russia, and Europe. It is developing a rocket capable of carrying satellites as heavy as 4 tons and plans to manufacture a reusable vehicle to cut costs.