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PSLV C23 rocket carrying five satellites lifts off from Sriharikota

June 30, 2014

New Delhi, June 30: Exactly at 9.52 am, the rocket - 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 port is around 80 km from Chennai.

The rocket's main luggage is the 714 kg French earth observation satellite SPOT-7.

Piggybacking on the main luggage are the four small satellites viz: 14-kg AISAT of Germany; NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) from Canada each weighing 15 kg; and the 7-kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, space scientists and other invitees at Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) rocket mission control room intently watched the rocket's upward flight with one way ticket.

This was the first space mission of the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

The five satellites were launched under commercial arrangements that Antrix Corporation - ISRO's commercial arm - has entered into with the respective foreign agencies.

ISRO officials are hoping that the agency's around 20 minute crucial space mission will turn out to be a grand success.

As per the mission plan, the rocket first spit out its heaviest and costliest luggage - SPOT-7 - around 18 minutes after the blast off.

India had launched another French satellite SPOT-6 in 2012. The latest in the SPOT family of satellites is the SPOT-7.

The ejection of SPOT-7 will be followed by AISAT (German), NLS7.1, NLS7.2 (both from Canada) and VELOX-1 (Singapore).

Starting from 1999 India has launched 35 foreign satellites till date using its PSLV rocket. The successful launch of five satellites Monday would take the tally to 40.

India began its space journey in 1975 with the launch of Aryabhatta using a Russian rocket and till date, it has completed over 100 space missions including missions to moon and mars.

Earlier:

Isro all set for launch of five foreign satellites today

Chennai, Jun 29: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch its commercial rocket carrying five foreign satellites with all the parameters before the launch progressing smoothly after the countdown.

Foreign satellites“The countdown for the launch of rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) on Monday at 9:52 am is progressing smoothly”, a senior Isro official from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, said.

The 49-hour countdown for the rocket’s flight started on Saturday morning at SDSC, about 100 km from north Chennai.

“The propellant filling operation of Reaction Control Thrusters (RCT) of the first stage, in the four-stage core alone vehicle, was completed. Propellant filling operation of the fourth stage was also completed”, the official added.

This would be PSLV’s 27th flight when it would launch SPOT-7, a French Earth Observation Satellite into a 655km Sun Synchronous Orbit. PSLV-C23 will carry the 714 kg SPOT-7 as the main payload. Also, the 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg, and the seven kg VELOX-1 of Singapore are being carried as co-passengers.

The launch was re-scheduled to 9:52 am from 9:49 am owing to the probability of space debris getting in the way of the launch vehicle.

Modi in Chennai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to witness the rocket launch. This is the first space mission of the NDA government led by Modi.

Meanwhile, Modi landed in Chennai Airport en-route to India’s rocket port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The special aircraft in which Modi was travelling landed after a 40 minute delay owing to bad weather.

Modi was given a warm reception by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Pon Radhakrishnan.

Later, he left for Sriharikota in a helicopter to witness the launch of PSLV on Monday morning.

Isro Chairman K Radhakrihna gave a brief presentation on Indian Space Programme to Modi at SDSC.

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News Network
May 29,2020

New Delhi, May 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed him about the views of all chief ministers on the extension of the ongoing nationwide lockdown beyond May 31, officials said.

During the meeting, Shah briefed Modi about the suggestions and the feedback he received from the chief ministers during his telephonic conversations on Thursday, a government official said.

The nationwide curbs were first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. It was first extended till May 3 and then again till May 17. The lockdown was further extended till May 31.

The home minister's telephonic conversations with the chief ministers came just three days before the end of the fourth phase of the lockdown.

During his talks with the chief ministers, Shah sought to know the areas of concern of the states and the sectors they want to open up further from June 1, the official said.

Interestingly, till now, it was Modi who had interacted with all chief ministers through video conference before the extension of each phase of the coronavirus-induced lockdown and sought their views.

This was for the first time that the home minister spoke to the chief ministers individually before the end of another phase of the lockdown.

Shah was present in all the conferences of chief ministers along with the prime minister. It is understood that the majority of the chief ministers wanted the lockdown to continue in some form but also favoured opening up of the economic activities and gradual return of the normal life, another official said.

The central government is expected to announce its decision on the lockdown within the next two days.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India has climbed to 1,65,799 on Friday, making it the world's ninth worst-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 4,706 in the country. While extending the fourth phase of the lockdown till May 31, the central government had announced the continuation of the prohibition on the opening of schools, colleges and malls but allowed the opening of shops and markets.

It said hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will remain shut even as all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship will remain closed till May 31.

The government, however, allowed limited operations of the train and domestic flights. The Indian Railways is also running special trains since May 1 for transportation of migrant workers from different parts of the country to their native states.

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News Network
May 23,2020

New Delhi, May 23: India witnessed the biggest ever spike of 6,654 positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 1,25,101, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As many as 137 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 3,720.
Out of the total number of cases, 69,597 are active and 51,784 have been cured/discharged or have migrated.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-affected state with 44,582 COVID-19 cases. It is followed by Tamil Nadu (14,753), Gujarat (13,268), and Delhi (12,319).

The nationwide lockdown imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 has been extended till May 31.

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News Network
January 22,2020

New Delhi, Jan 22: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has assets worth Rs 3.4 crore, an increase of Rs 1.3 crore from 2015, according to his election affidavit.

Kejriwal's total assets were worth Rs 2.1 crore in 2015.

The cash and fixed deposits of Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal increased from Rs 15 lakh in 2015 to Rs 57 lakh in 2020.

A party functionary said Rs 32 lakh worth cash and fixed deposits have been received by Sunita Kejriwal as voluntary retirement benefits while the rest are savings.

The cash and fixed deposits of the chief minister increased from Rs 2.26 lakh in 2015 to Rs 9.65 lakh in 2020.

There was no change in the value of immovable assets of his wife while Kejriwal's immovable assets' worth increased from Rs 92 lakh to Rs 177 lakh.

The party functionaries said increase in Kejriwal's immovable assets' worth is due to the increased valuation of the same asset as in 2015.

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