India today successfully launched 20 satellites into space on a single rocket, track record for the Asian country, which will put into orbit three Indians and 17 other nations like the United States, Germany or Canada appliances.
The launch was carried out with a polar vehicle PSLV-C34 at 9.26 local time (3.56 GMT), from a platform at the base of Sriharikota in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said the Organization of Space Research India (ISRO).
The Indian space agency broadcast live the entire process from the countdown to the confirmation of the success of the operation nearly half an hour later with the launching of the rocket, at which time started distributing satellites in space.
"In the coming days more satellites will be launched," he said after the operation the director of ISRO Satellite Center, M. Annadura, who stressed the important possibilities for the "global market" with this type of release.
Among the 13 US-made satellites small format placed in orbit today includes one of 1.1 tons manufactured by Terra Bella, owned by Google, which will have the function of taking pictures and videos of the Earth at a very high resolution.
India began to place satellites in Earth orbit in 1999.
Today's launch of 20 satellites on a single rocket is a record figure for India and approaches the 29 United States placed in orbit in 2013 and at 33 sent into space by Russia a year later.
"20 satellites in a single launch! ISRO continue to break new barriers. Kind our scientists for this monumental achievement Congratulations, "said the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his Twitter account.
India has one of the most active space programs of the world, with the launch so far over 100 missions since its founding a little more than half a century.
Among the greatest achievements of the space program of the Asian giant in 2008 include sending its first lunar probe in 2014 and put a probe into the orbit of Mars. EFE