It was a red-letter day for scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation as they watched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 11th flight, soar into the clear sky in a perfect lift-off around 1530 hours from the space port, about 100 km north of Chennai, on April 23.

The successful launch of the PSLV marks India's first fully commercial space launch.

The PSLV, a workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO, has been used in nine consecutive flights till now since the first successful launch in 1994. It will also launch India's first mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, during 2008.

Greet the scientists on their spectacular achievement!