ISRO's 100th mission a milestone: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday described ISRO's 100th space mission as "a milestone" following the successful launch of its rocket carrying two foreign satellites.

ISRO's 100th space mission "is a milestone in our nation's space capability", Manmohan Singh said after the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here.

He congratulated scientists and engineers of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

"I'm delighted to witness the launch of PSLV-C21 carrying two foreign satellites. On behalf of all Indians, I congratulate the space fraternity," he added.

The prime minister said the country had overcome immense odds and was proud of its space scientists for setting up world-class facilities.

He said he nurtured no doubt that ISRO would achieve greater heights.

Exactly at 9.51 a.m., the rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 (PSLV-C21), standing around 44 metres tall and weighing around 230 tonne, with a one-way ticket - hurtled towards the skies ferrying SPOT 6, a French earth observation satellite weighing 712 kg, and a 15-kg micro satellite Proiteres from Japan.