WEB DESK
ISRO’s heavy-lift rocket GSLV-Mark-Three has proven its reliability by successfully launching the communication satellite GSAT-29.
It lifted off this evening at 05.08 hours from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
In a little over 16 minutes, it injected the country’s second high-throughput communication satellite GSAT-29 into the geostationary transfer orbit.
ISRO chairman Dr Sivan, in his congratulatory message to his fellow scientists, said, the GSLV Mark-Three has entered majestically into the list of operational launch vehicles today.
It will enable the Chandrayaan-II mission in January next and the Gaganyaan in the next three years.
Mr Sivan also said, the satellite GSAT-29 will help the Digital India programme in a substantive way in ensuring digital connectivity in remotest parts.
The GSLV Mark Three injected the satellite in an orbit closer to the earth at 190 km and farthest at 35,975 km.
Later, the satellite will be brought to the intended circular and geostationary orbit of 36000 km radius using remote manoeuvring by scientists.
The first test-flight of the 43.49-meter tall GSLV-Mark-Three rocket in June last year has also been a resounding success. It has one of the world’s most powerful cryogenic engines, that generates power as high as two megawatts.
Overall, this is the 67th launch from Sriharikota for the ISRO and the fifth launch this year.
The payload GSAT-29 is the country’s 33rd communication satellite built by the ISRO. It is in effect a high-throughput multi-beam satellite meant for hi-speed data transfer in the North East and other far-flung regions of the nation. It weighs 3423 kg during lift off and has an operational life of over ten years.
The multi-beam, high-throughput communication satellite GSAT-29 carries Ku and Ka-band transponders. They can ensure hi-speed data transfer without going for any extra bandwidth.
📡LIVE Now: Launch of GSLV Mk-III D2/ GSAT-29 Mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota https://t.co/nIwBVLhaBx
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 14, 2018