Earlier this week we told you about India’s mission to deploy an absurd number of satellites from a single launch vehicle. Thankfully, the mission went off without a hitch, and the record-breaking payload was successfully placed in orbit by the Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO. But the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle that carried over 100 of the devices into space wasn’t just carrying expensive gadgets, it was also equipped with a camera to document the deployment, and ISRO just published that video for us all to enjoy.
The short video showcases the launch and ascent of the rocket before showing off its efficient and seemingly flawless deployment of 104 satellites from a handful of countries, including the US. Of the satellites included in the launch, 96 came from the United States, and 88 of those came from Earth imaging startup Planet.
In the video, following the separation of the rocket boosters and the decoupling of the second and third stages of the rocket, you’ll notice one massive satellite break off followed by many smaller ones. The largest device is India’s own Cartosat-2, which weighs in at a whopping 1,574lbs. To put that in perspective, the combined weight of the other 103 satellites on board the launch vehicle weigh in at roughly 1,464lbs.
As ISRO notes in its press release announcing the successful launch, the organization has now helped its “customer” countries deploy a total of 180 satellites. India is quickly becoming an appealing option for many companies and nations who need a cheap and efficient way of sending their gadgets into space, and a record-shattering launch like this is surely helping to cement its reputation.
