Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), July 15 (IANS) India's space agency chief K. Radhakrishnan Friday said the launch of the rocket PSLV was a success.


"I am extremely happy to state that the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)-C17 GSAT-12 mission is successful. The satellite was launched in the intended orbit."

"Within the next 30 minutes information about the GSAT 12's health and how it is working will be known," he told cheering scientists at the launch site here, 80 km north of Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai.

V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said: "I am extremely happy (at the successful launch). I am coming here for the second time, and it is a second successful launch. On behalf of the prime minister, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, I congratulate the ISRO scientists for the wonderful performance."

He was speaking after the PSLV blasted off successfully at 4.48 p.m. carrying the 1,410 kg GSAT-12 satellite from the spaceport here.