India Launches PSLV-8

Sriharikota: The PSLV-C8 blasted off into space carrying an Italian astronomical satellite, AGILE, from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre here on Monday, marking India's first fully commercial launch.

Scientists cheered and a loud applause was heard as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 11th flight, soared into the clear sky in a perfect lift-off around 3.30 pm from this space port, about 100 km north of Chennai.

Besides the 352-kg AGILE, the PSLV is also carrying ISRO's Advanced Avionics Module, weighing 185 kg, to flight-test advanced avionics such as mission computers, navigation and telemetry systems for use in future launch vehicles.

This is also the first time the PSLV is flying without the six strap-AMM and is only about 540 kg. The 44-metre tall four-stage PSLV will put AGILE into orbit at 550 km above the Earth.

The satellite will be used to investigate gamma ray bursts, pulsars and supernova remnants.

The PSLV had earlier launched six small foreign satellites into 550-800 -km-high polar sun synchronous orbits (SSOs) from abroad for a nominal fee.