India successfully launches rocket carring foreign satellites

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23), carrying five satellites, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, north of the southern Indian city of Chennai on June 30, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

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MUMBAI -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday successfully launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-23 rocket at 9:52 am local time with five foreign satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota of south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived at Sriharikota on Sunday, witnessed the rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

"I feel specially privileged to witness this event in person," said Modi who clapped as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C23 ( PSLV-C23) - standing around 44.4 metres tall and weighing around 230 ton - tore into the bright morning skies with orange flames fiercely burning at its tail.

The rocket used is a core-alone, highly-proven, four-stage PSLV. The final 49-hour countdown for the rocket launch begun on June 28.

Besides its primary payload of 714 kg French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, PSLV C23 carried and placed in orbit 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

ISRO has so far launched 35 satellites from 19 countries worldwide.