“Achievement is not an end, it needs not only be sustained, but enhanced,” said Dr. Guruprasad, senior scientist and Public Relations Officer of Indian Space Research Organisation, speaking after the successful launch of a record 104 satellites in one go recently.
Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the two-day ISRO’s Space Exhibition, organised as part of the ‘Smaveekshana-2017’, the annual tech-fest of the S.G. Balekundri Institute of Technology (SGBIT), here on Friday, he said that he was not sure if India had established a world record with the feat.
He said that of the 104 satellites, only three were Indian, while 96 were from USA, and one each was from Switzerland, Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Israel and UAE. Also, of the total 1,378 kg of satellites’ weight put into space, the primary satellite weighing 714 kg was Indian. A majority of the satellites were commercially owned by various corporate houses across the world.
So far, India has launched 180 satellites of foreign origin into space from India. ISRO had built more than 80 satellites so far.
Dr.Guruprasad said ISRO, as part of its outreach programme, had been conducting space exhibitions for students across the country with the objective of inspiring them to take an interest in space sciences and technology. The exhibits included pictorial panels portraying various stages of country’s space programme, achievements and models of the PSLV and satellites.
On the occasion, he also demonstrated and trained students on how to make water rockets using simple technology like a plastic bottle, water and an air pump. SGBIT principal S.S. Salimath was present.
