Indian rocket aids launch of smallest spacecraft

ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world's smallest spacecraft named 'Sprites' in low Earth orbit. The Indian spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

Along with the smallest spacecraft, the launch vehicle also carried the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite with 30 other satellites. The 30 smaller satellite included 6 prototypes of interstellar spacecraft 'Sprites'.

The tiny spacecraft measures 3.5cm by 3.5cm and weighs around four grams.

The spacecraft is successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth. These have been designed to help pave the way for even smaller single-chip spacecraft.

According to a report, the launch is part of the ambitious project called 'Breakthrough Startshot 'by the Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner and famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.