India successfully launches 31 satellites in space – including ‘Chhota Bheem’

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched 31 satellites, including its first hyperspectral imaging satellite (HysIS), this morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The PSLV-C43 was the 45th mission of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle programme and soon after the successful launch hashtags #ISRO and #PSLVC43 became top trends in India.

Isro’s official Twitter account posted updates from the rocket launch and the satellites entering their orbit, with tweeps congratulating the space agency on its achievement.

Some tweeps marveled at the modest start of India’s space programme, which started almost half a century ago. Since 1969, Isro has conducted 97 spacecraft missions, 67 launch missions and placed 237 foreign satellites. The agency’s Mangalayan Mars Orbiter Mission gained it a lot of international attention because of the tight budget on which the successful mission was accomplished.