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ISRO to launch eight satellites using PSLV on 26 September
MUMBAI: It will be the second satellite launch this month for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). On 26 September 2016 at exactly 9:12 am the PSLV C35 will blast off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It will mark the 37th mission and 15 th flight of the PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors) which will put eight satellites into orbit.
ISRO will, with the PSLV C35, be undertaking its longest launch and probably most complicated mission ever attempted as it is using the same rocket to launch satellites into two different orbits. The Scatsat-1 satellite, weighing 371 kg for ocean and weather related studies, will be hurled into polar sun synchronous orbit at an altitude of 730 km 17 minutes after liftoff.
Two Indian universities/ academic institute satellites (Pratham-10kg, IIT – Bombay and Pisat-5.25 kg, PES University, Bengaluru and its consortium) and five foreign satellites will be placed into a 670 km polar orbit. The five co-passenger satellites are from Algeria (three of them – Alsat-1B 103kg, Alsat-2B 117kg, Alsat-1N 7kg), Canada (NLS-19, 8kg) and the US (Pathfinder-44kg).
What makes the mission complicated is that once Scatscat-1 is launched, the fourth stage engine of the PSLV-C35 will come to a halt. India’s space agency will then keep a tab on the engine health from the ground and will restart it after about 60 minutes for another 20 seconds which will give it the required thrust to take the rocket into the next orbit and release the payload of seven satellites. ISRO has planned to attempt ‘multiple burn technology’ as it is an effective method in cutting costs during satellite launches.
Earlier this month on 8 September, IISRO had successfully launched its weather satellite INSAT-3DR, a two tonner, using the GSLV-F05, the tenth flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), The launch took place from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It was significant because it was the first operational flight of GSLV carrying Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS). The indigenously developed CUS was carried on-board for the fourth time during a GSLV flight in the GSLV-F05 flight.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
