GSLV-MkIII, a run-up to Chandrayan: Sivan
Moving another step forward in the space technology, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully launched Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) carrying GSAT-29 communication satellite.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-11-14 22:28 GMT
Chennai
The GSLV rocket took off majestically at 5.08pm from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, around 100 km away north of Chennai. Sixteen minutes after the take-off, the rocket preciously placed the 3,423 kg GSAT-29 satellite in the required orbit.
The satellite will be placed in its final Geostationary Orbit (GEO) at a height of 36,000 km using the onboard propulsion system. It may take a few days after separation from launcher to reach its orbital slot.
Commenting on the mission, ISRO chairman K Sivan said on Wednesday, “India has achieved a significant milestone in the space programme as GSLV placed the heaviest satellite precisely in the required orbit”.
Rating the November 14 mission as an important one, he said that it was the first step towards launching Chandrayaan II. “This rocket will also carry the human to the space in three years from now”.
Sivan also said that this GSAT-29, which was the advance version, would help to take communication services even to remote corners of the country.
The 640 tonne and 43.4-metre-tall GSLV MkIII rocket is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by the ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons at first stage, a liquid propellant core in its second stage and a cryogenic in the third stage.
GSLV Mk III is designed to carry four-tonne class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which was around twice the capability of GSLV MkII.
The satellite will be at 55 °E longitude and designed for a mission life of 10 years. GSAT-29 carries Ka/Ku-band high throughout communication transponders intended to meet the communication requirements of users, including those in remote areas.
In addition, several new technologies such as Q/V-band payload, data transmission through optical communication link will be demonstrated. This will help in realising future advanced satellites.
The satellite also carried a geo-high resolution camera. This was the 67th launch vehicle from the SHAR range in the Spaceport of Sriharikota, 33rd indigenously-built communication satellite, 23rd launch from the second launch pad and fifth launch of this year.
Focus shifts to big ticket manned mission to space
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which has been emerging as a key player in the space sector after a streak of successful launches, has started throwing its full weight behind its next mega endeavour, the manned mission to space in 2021.
Conveying to media persons, after the successful launch of GSLVMKiii, ISRO chairman K Sivan said that scientists were working hard to accomplish the project within the stipulated time.
“Ahead of the 2021 launch, we will be carrying out unmanned mission by January 2019. After observing all the parameters in the unmanned mission, necessary improvements will be made for launching of another unmanned mission by 2020,” ISRO chairman K Sivan said.
Explaining key features of the country’s first manned space mission, Sivan said crew members would stay in the space for five to seven days and carryout micro gravity experiments. “In the future manned missions, long-term experiments will be carried out,” he added.
Stating that the first manned mission satellite will be launched only from India’s space port Sriharikota, the ISRO chairman said, “we have to effect some modification in the base of the launch pad to make the placing of the crew in the rocket a comfortable exercise.”
Regarding the selection of crew, Sivan said that the process was yet to commence. “Not just ISRO, several other agencies will also be involved in the selection process. It is at the discussion stage,” Sivan informed
About other future launches, the ISRO authority said the ISRO officials were in the process of developing a GSLV Mk-III rocket that can carry pay loads of more than six tonnes. “We are making efforts to increase the payload further,” he added.
According to the chairman, the ISRO would be launching 10 satellites in the coming months. “There will be six satellite mission and four launch vehicle mission”, he detailed.
Pointing out that future GSAT launches would offer a big push to the internet speed in India, Sivan said, “efforts are on in this direction and another couple of communication satellites will be launched to boost the net speed to 100 GBPS.”
On the Chandrayaan-II mission, Sivan said that lots of improvement have been made compared to Chandrayan I. “ Orbiter, Lander and Rover are being augmented,” he added.
Key Features
- High Throughput Communication Satellite
- Connectivity to Remote Areas
- Q/V-Band Payload
- High Resolution Imaging from GEO
- Optical Communication Technology
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