India has successfully launched a rocket into into space carrying three satellites, officials say.
The trouble-free launch was in contrast to a major setback in December when a satellite launch vehicle blew up and fell into the Bay of Bengal.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) had a smooth lift-off and deployed the satellites in orbit around 820km (500 miles) above Earth.
Staff at the launch pad in Andhra Pradesh cheered as the rocket took off.
The main satellite in the launch from the Sriharikota space centre was the remote-sensing Resourcesat-2, which will study the impact of humans on the earth's natural resources.
***
more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13141562And where is the US in this game?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=78925&mesg_id=78925http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5682441&mesg_id=5682441http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2329647&mesg_id=2329647http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=711210&mesg_id=711210for background --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacefaring#Uncrewed_spacefaring_nations