April 30,2008: On April 28th, India put ten satellites into orbit with one launch. The 230 ton PSLV launcher used for this only cost $18 million. With a payload of 1800 pounds, this PSLV put one 1500 pound photo satellite, a 183 pound research satellite, and eight 14 pound (on average) nano-sats (for various research projects) into orbit. The mini-and nano satellites are becoming increasingly important because of advances in several technologies (electronics, solar panels, batteries), allowing very small, and very cheap, satellites to be useful.