Isro's PSLV-C38 launch

The launch also marked the second highest number of payloads in a single flight after Isro launched 104 satellites onboard PSLV-C37 on February 15 this year

PSLV-C38 rocket successfully puts earth observation satellite Cartosat-2s and 30 nano satellites into orbit

Of the 30 nano satellites that have been launched, 29 are foreign and one is Indian

Final countdown begins for the launch of PSLV-C38

Mission director B Jayakumar gives authorisation to proceed with the launch of PSLV-C38

Top Isro scientists including VSSC director K Sivan, SDSC director Kunhi Krishnan, LPSC director Somanath and SAC director Mylsamy Annadurai arrive at the mission control centre at SDSC.

Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar greets fellow scientists at the mission control centre in SDSC, Sriharikota.

The co-passenger satellites comprise 29 Nano satellites from 14 countries namely, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and United States of America as well as one Nano satellite from India. The total weight of all these satellites carried on-board PSLV-C38 is about 955 kg.

This will be the 40th flight of PSLV and 17th flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors).

PSLV-C38 mission will hold special place for TN students

The PSLV-C38 mission will be special for Tamil Nadu as it carries a satellite indigenously developed by students of a university in Kanyakumari district.

NIUSAT satellite, developed by Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari district, will ride piggyback with 29 other satellites of various countries in the 40th mission of PSLV.

PSLV-C38 / Cartosat2 Series Satellite Missionhttps://t.co/cB4xCOOZ0a pic.twitter.com/VOStFEclgA

& ISRO (@isro) June 22, 2017

Once Cartosat-2 series becomes operational, it would be "handed over" to the defence forces, which have their own "set up," including ground-stations and trained manpower to access data.

Panoramic view of the fully-integrated PSLV-C38. (Courtesy: Isro.gov.in)

India's eye in the sky to get sharper and wider

India's 'eye in the sky' is set to become sharper and wider with the launch of a third spacecraft in Cartosat-2 series - a dedicated satellite for defence forces.

The latest remote sensing satellite to be launched on board PSLV-C38 has a resolution of 0.6 metres, which means it can spot even smaller objects.

PSLV-C38 will lift off from the first launch pad at Sriharikota spaceport at 9.29am today.