Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday applauded scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the success of its 100th space mission.

The Indian space agency successfully launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-21 rocket carrying French and Japanese satellites to space satellite. The rocket blasted off from the Sriharikota satellite launch centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Singh expressing happiness at the successful launch, applauded ISRO scientists and the Department of Space, and described the achievement as the “spectacular success.”

Addressing a gathering of ISRO fraternity, Dr. singh said, “As ISRO’s 100th space mission, today’s [Sunday’s] launch is a milestone in our nation’s space capabilities.”

Dr. Singh also congratulated the Osaka Institute of Technology of Japan and EADS Astrium of France on the successful launch of their satellites.

Mr. Singh noted that the year of 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of India’s space programme. He paid rich tributes to Vikram Sarabhai, and recalled that he had worked very closely with former ISRO scientist Satish Dhawan as a member of the Space Commission in the late 1970s.

The latest achievement has strengthened the commercial competitiveness of the Indian space industry.