Awwal 16, 1432, April 20, 2011, SPA -- A space department official says an Indian-made rocket has been successfully launched into space carrying three satellites. S. Satish says the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle had a smooth liftoff and deployed the satellites in orbit around 500 miles (820 kilometers) above the Earth. Scientists and engineers at India's launch pad in southern Andhra Pradesh state cheered Wednesday as the rocket lifted off. Minutes later, the rocket deployed the satellites as scheduled, the Associated Press reported. The largest satellite will help map the country's natural resources, with two smaller satellites studying the stars and processing images from space.
