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ISRO’s PSLV-C35 launches seven other satellites successfully
MUMBAI: Around two hours after lift-off and after placing India’s weather satellite ScatSat1 in a polar sun synchronous orbit at 720 km, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) PSLV C35 rocket fired once again. Following that maneuver, it placed another seven satellites in orbit at an altitude of 670 km.
The seven satellites included two from Indian educational institutions (PISAT and Pratham) and three commercial initiatives from Algeria (Alsat-1B, 2B and 1N) and one each from Canada (NLS-19) and the US (Pathfinder 1).
ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar called the Monday launch as a landmark day in its history. The reason: the PSLV C35 mission marked the first time that the space organization had successfully fired the polar satellite launch vehicle twice to place satellite in different orbital altitudes. And, it was also the longest PSLV mission tackled by ISRO.
ScatSat-1 has a lifespan of five years and it is meant to give e weather forecasting services through the generation of wind vector products, while the the 10 kg Pratham developed by by IIT Bombay intends to estimate the total electron count with a resolution of 1km x 1km location grid. PISAT from the PES University will explore remote sensing applications.
Algeria’s ALSAT-1B is an earth observation satellite (103 kg), ALSAT-2B a remote sensing satellite (117 kg) and ALSAT-1N (7 kg) a technology demonstrator. Canada’s NLS-19 is a technology demonstration micro satellite (8 kg) and Pathfinder-1 is a commercial high resolution imaging micro satellite (44 kg).
Kiran Kumar said that ISRO’s next launch is slated for 4 October which is the communication satellite GSAT-18.
Congratulations poured into ISRO from all quarters right from Suresh Prabhu to M Venkaiah Naidu to the President Pranab Mukherjee to Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Nirmala Setharaman and finally from the prime minister Narendra Modi.
Also Read: ISRO’s PSLV-C35 takes off successfully, Scatsat1 launched
Also Read: ISRO to launch eight satellites using PSLV on 26 September
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.
