India's ISRO Successfully Launches 100th Mission

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India's ISRO Successfully Launches 100th Mission

Posted by timothy on Sunday September 9, 2012 @01:15AM from the let's-go-ahead-and-call-it-the-space-age dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Five decades after a humble start to its space program, the Indian Space Research Organization has successfully launched its 100th mission. From the news article: 'Making history in its space Odyssey, India on Sunday successfully launched its 100th mission with its workhorse PSLV-C21 placing in orbit two foreign satellites in a flawless flight from the spaceport here. The third wholly commercial launch with no Indian satellite was a textbook mission as Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) placed in orbit French spacecraft SPOT 6 and Japanese micro satellite PROITERES some 18 minutes after lift-off at 9:53 a.m..' ISRO has so far launched 62 satellites, one space recovery module, and 37 rockets."

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Being Pedantic by pushing-robot · 2012-09-09 01:28 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm more impressed with how they managed 100 successful launches with only 37 rockets. Trebuchet-to-orbit isn't as easy as it sounds.

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How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
1. Re:Being Pedantic by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2012-09-09 01:32 · Score: 2
  
  They probably used an ancient Indian technique to accomplish that.
  
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  Ezekiel 23:20
2. Re:Being Pedantic by ShanghaiBill · 2012-09-09 01:52 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I'm more impressed with how they managed 100 successful launches with only 37 rockets.
  This is explained in the article. Each rocket launch is considered a "mission". Each satellite placed in orbit is considered a "mission". So if a rocket is launched with two satellites on board, that counts as three "missions".
  Maybe this mission counting system was devised by some ex-Arthur Andersen accountants.
3. Re:Being Pedantic by cruff · 2012-09-09 02:11 · Score: 2
  
  What happens when a screw falls out in orbit?
  I believe it is called "a mission of opportunity".
4. Re:Being Pedantic by Dexter+Herbivore · 2012-09-09 08:00 · Score: 2
  
  If you're going to be pedantic, according to Dr. Who it's the "ISA" not the "ISRO". :)
Re:Forgive my Americocentricity by ShanghaiBill · 2012-09-09 02:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

relinquishing the scientific leadership of the planet
India just put a satellite into low Earth orbit.
America just put a robot rover onto the surface of Mars.
I think your concerns are overstated.
Re: foreign by PPH · 2012-09-09 02:12 · Score: 2

Interesting fact: In most of the world, 'American' is foreign.

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Have gnu, will travel.
Re:Forgive my Americocentricity by ShanghaiBill · 2012-09-09 02:26 · Score: 4, Insightful

A large portion of the scientists responsible for putting the robot on Mars? From outside the USA
A large portion of the scientists responsible for putting a man on the moon? From outside the USA
A large portion of the scientists responsible for building the first atomic bomb? From outside the USA
A large portion of the scientists responsible for the industrial revolution? From outside the USA
America has always been a nation of immigrants.
Re:Go India! by timeOday · 2012-09-09 05:56 · Score: 4, Informative

Oooh, you're not kidding:

People were asked which statements were closest to their own opinion about how evolutionary theories should be taught in science lessons in schools. The highest proportion agreeing that evolutionary theories alone should be taught was in India, at 49%, followed by Spain (42%).