New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on the successful launch of ASTROSAT, India's dedicated space observatory.

"I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to you and your entire team at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on the successful launch of PSLV-C30 carrying ASTROSAT," Mukherjee said in a message to ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar.

"With the successful launch of Astrosat, our nation has become the fourth country in the world to have launched a space observatory, which will be useful in the improved study of celestial objects and the universe. The nation is proud of this impressive achievement, which has demonstrated, yet again, India's increasing space capabilities," he said.

India on Monday joined a select group of nations owning space observatory with the successful launch of ASTROSAT by its rocket, which also put into orbit six other foreign satellites.

With ASTROSAT, India gained an entry into the select club - US, Japan, Russia and Europe - which have their own space observatories.