NEW DELHI, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 104 satellites in a single mission next week, officials said Saturday.
The record number of satellites would be launched on Wednesday from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, an island off the Bay of Bengal coast located in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
"India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 39th flight (PSLV-C37), will launch the 714-kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 103 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 664 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO)," a statement issued by ISRO said.
"PSLV-C37 is scheduled to be launched Feb. 15, 2017 (Wednesday) at 9:28 a.m. local time from Sriharikota."
According to the ISRO, the co-passenger satellites comprises of 101 nano satellites, one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 96 from the United States, as well as two nano satellites from India.
The total weight of all the satellites carried onboard PSLV-C37 is about 1,378 kg, ISRO said.
"The 101 International customer nano satellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), a Government of India company under Department of Space (DOS), the commercial arm of ISRO and the international customers," the statement said.
Last year the ISRO launched 20 satellites successfully in an orbit in single mission.
So far, the highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37 by Russia in 2014.
