India’s heaviest rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) is gearing up for its maiden flight into space along with a communications satellite GSAT-19.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its most powerful rocket GSLV Mark III carrying GSAT-19 communication satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Former ISRO Scientist, Nambi Narayanan said, ‘We are glad on its launch. It is a three stage vehicle and has four tones of capability and post 10 tones in lower orbit. It’s is a big milestone for all of us, we also wish more clients to come’.
ISRO Chief Kiran Kumar also lauded his entire team who worked on the project. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed ISRO for the historic achievement.
GSLV-Mark III was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center at 5:28 pm.
Here are seven facts about the launch:
1. The 25-and-half hour countdown began yesterday at 3.58 pm and was ‘progressing normally’. Scientists were currently involved in the propellant filling operations of the heaviest GSLV-MkIII D1. The rocket is scheduled for a lift off at 5.28 pm from second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota about 120kms from here.
2. Till now, ISRO had to depend on foreign launchers for communication satellites weighing more than 2,300 kg. The GSLV MkIII-D1 is capable of lifting payloads of up to 4,000 kg into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and 10,000 kg into the Low Earth Orbit. The rocket was developed for 15 years at a cost of around Rs 300 crore.
3. Earlier, ISRO had launched the 3,404 kg GSAT-18 communication satellite from Ariane, French Guiana. The GSLV-Mk III-D1 is a three-stage vehicle with indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine designed to carry heavier communication satellites into the GTO.
4. Today's mission would augment India's communication resources as a single GSAT-19 satellite will be equivalent to having a constellation of six to seven of the older variety of communication satellites. In 2014, ISRO had successfully tested the Crew module Atmospheric Reentry experiment with the flight GSLV MkIII. The module after making its re-entry deployed its parachutes as planned and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal.
5. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been promoting the home-grown space programme as a demonstration of low-cost technology and in February it launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers.
6. The GSAT-19 satellite will be the heaviest India has attempted to put in orbit, the space agency said. The United States, Russia, China, Japan and European Space Agency have launched satellites weighing over three tons. ISRO hopes that if today’s launch is successful, it will help it attract more foreign business in the lucrative heavier segment of the satellite business.
7. According to online reports, ISRO has asked Rs 12,500 crore from the Centre for its mission to place humans in space. If approved, the work is expected to take roughly seven years. The premiere space agency has already developed critical technologies for a human space mission. The space suit is ready and a crew module was tested in 2014.
With agency inputs
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