India’s PSLV-C44 lifting off from Satish Dhawan Space Center on Jan. 24. Photo: ISRO

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) successfully lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India at 23:37 (IST) on Jan. 24. This was the rocket’s 46th flight, carrying the Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites.

This flight marked the first mission of PSLV-DL, a new variant of PSLV with two strap-on motors. In the previous PSLV launch on Nov. 29, PSLV-C43 had successfully launched India’s HysIS as well as 30 customer satellites from abroad.

In his post-launch address, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan said the PSLV-C44 mission was unique as it was for the first time the ISRO used the last stage of the rocket as a platform to perform experiments in space. “I hope the student community will make use of this opportunity being provided by ISRO. This new low cost technology will help students to conduct several inspiring experiments in space by attaching their instruments to the last stage of the rocket,” Sivan said.