India successfully launches first hi-tech telescopes into space

Mini space observatory will orbit 400 miles above Earth, cost 17.7m and has a lifespan of five years

India successfully launched its first hi-tech telescopes into space to study the stars, as New Delhi seeks to take another step in its ambitious space programme.

A rocket carrying the 1.5-tonne mini space observatory, called Astrosat, along with six foreign satellites, blasted off on schedule from India's main southern spaceport of Sriharikota on Sunday.