The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully placed 20 satellites into orbit from southern India today, its highest number yet.

The launch of the 320-tonne PSLV-C34 took off at 0456GMT from Satish Dhawan Space Center, carrying 3 local and 17 foreign satellites, including satellites from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and United States.

They included Cartosat-2, an Indian earth observation satellite that can take high-resolution images.

With this launch, the Indian space agency has beaten its previous record of placing 10 satellites in April 2008.

Currently, Russia holds the world record for placing the most number of satellites in a single launch. Its Dnepr rocket launched 37 satellites in 2014.

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