ASTROSAT, India's Own Observatory, Launched Into Space

A satellite launch vehicle carrying ASTROSAT, India's first astronomy observatory to study distant celestial objects, was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh this morning. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-30 lifted off from the launch pad at the rocket port in Sriharikota, around 80 km from Chennai, at 10 am. Minutes later, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) declared that the PSLV has successfully launched ASTROSAT into the orbit.