ISRO successfully launches communication satellite GSAT-29

Shiv kumarwww.snakynews.info

NOV 15, 2018 08:45 IST

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on November 14, 2018 successfully launched communication satellite GSAT-29 aboard its heavy-lift Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MkIII-D2).

The launch took place at 05.08 hours from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The countdown for the launch had begun at 2.50 pm on November 13. The GSLV Mark-III rocket weighs around 640 ton and has a height of 43.4 metres.

Key Highlights

• The launch vehicle injected India’s second high-throughput communication satellite GSAT-29 into its planned geostationary transfer orbit just over 17 minutes into its flight.

• After injection, ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan assumed the control of the 3,423 kg satellite.

• In the coming days, three orbit raising manoeuvers will be executed to position the satellite in the Geostationary Orbit at its designated location, at an estimated height of 36,000 km from the earth.

• Two massive boosters with solid propellant constitute the first stage, the core with liquid propellant form the second stage and the cryogenic engine completes the final stage.

• GSAT-29 is a multiband, multi-beam communication satellite, intended to serve as test bed for several new and critical technologies. The mission life of the satellite is over ten years.

• It carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders, which are intended to cater to the communication requirements of users, including those in remote areas.

• The satellite will mainly aim to increase hi-speed communication facilities in the northeast, Jammu & Kashmir and other far-flung areas of the nation.

• The satellite also carries few other systems such as Q/V-band communication payload, for experimenting with the evolving technologies in satellite science.

• It also carries a Geo High Resolution Camera, which will carry out high resolution imaging and an Optical Communication Payload, which will demonstrate data transmission at a very high rate through optical communication link.

Significance The success of GSLV MkIII-D2 marks an important milestone in Indian space programme towards achieving self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. The success of this flight also signifies the completion of the experimental phase of GSLV Mark III. The first successful mission of GSLV Mark III was an experimental suborbital flight in 2014. Subsequently, GSLV Mark III-D1 launched GSAT-19, a high throughput communication satellite, with a lift-off mass of 3150 kg, into GTO on June 5, 2017. The current launch will help to bridge the digital divide.

Background

GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

This is the second test flight of the launch vehicle. Its success will prove its reliability for future commercial launches.

The same class of rocket is scheduled to be used for the upcoming Chandrayaan-II mission in January 2019 as well as the Gaganyaan mission.

The four-ton class vehicle comprises three stages, beginning with the two solid strap-on motors on both the sides of the middle stage. The middle stage uses liquid fuel and the upper one is a cryogenic engine