The Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday launched 20 satellites from Sriharikota, according to ANI. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-34 carrying Cartosat-2, an earth observation satellite, along with 19 others from the US, Germany, Canada and Indonesia will take off from the Andhra Pradesh space centre. This is the first time that the space agency will attempt to launch so many satellites at the same time, PTI reported.

On Monday, the launch authorisation board approved the mission, following which the the countdown to the lift-off started. “Spacecraft health checks and preparations for propellant filling operation of second stage (PS2) of PSLV-C34 are under progress. Countdown is progressing normally,” Isro said in a statement.

All the satellites together weigh around 1,288 kg at lift-off, which includes LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among others. The Isro scientists said the micro satellites will be injected into a 505-km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit as part of the mission.