India and China ramp up space operations

The Indian and Chinese governments hope to break national records for space activities in 2018.

On 10 January, India plans to launch 31 satellites simultaneously into near-Earth orbit, Indian media has reported. An Indian satellite designed to expand the country’s cartographic abilities will be the largest cargo. The payload will include two smaller Indian satellites.

"We have tentatively scheduled the rocket launch at 9.30 a.m. to carry Cartosat and other satellites, including 28 from the US and five other countries in a single mission," Indian Space Research Organisation director Devi Prasad Karnik told IANS.