India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLVC-21 lifts off carrying one French and one Japanese satellite from a launch pad in Sriharikota, southern India, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. The launch marked the 100th mission for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)
(AP)—India's national space organization has marked its 100th mission by launching French and Japanese satellites.
The Indian Space Research Organization said Sunday's launch of a French observation satellite and a Japanese microsatellite was a success.
India has had an active space program since the 1960s and has launched scores of satellites for itself and other countries.
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLVC-21 lifts off, carrying one French and one Japanese satellite from a launch pad in Sriharikota, southern India, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. The launch marked the 100th mission for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). (AP Photo)
In 2008, it successfully sent a probe to the moon that detected evidence of water on the lunar surface for the first time. The space agency plans to send a spacecraft to Mars next year.
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