India Launches 104 Satellites From Single Rocket, Ramping Up Space Race

by Dramelin 5:00 AM 0 comments

The previous record was set by Russia?s space agency, which launched 37 satellites into orbit with one rocket in 2014. India is a country fascinated with world records, and Wednesday?s satellite launch prompted a wave of celebratory crowing, some of it aimed at Asian rivals. The chairman of the Indian space agency, A. S. Kiran Kumar, has said that commercial fees provided around half of the cost of Wednesday?s mission. By charging significantly less to launch satellites into space, India could carve out a niche in the $3 billion to $4 billion market for detailed information about climate, topography and defense, Mr. Bhaskar said. PhotoNEW DELHI ? India?s space agency launched a flock of 104 satellites into space over the course of 18 minutes on Wednesday, nearly tripling the previous record for single-day satellite launches and establishing India as a key player in a growing commercial market for space-based surveillance and communication.