Isro’s GSLV-MkIII-D2 rocket places GSAT-29 in orbit; mission success gives Isro a boost before Chandrayaan-2 and manned mission

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Wednesday successfully placed another communication satellite in orbit, while also achieving a crucial success of GSLV-MkIII rocket which is slated to launch two big missions --Chandrayaan-2 and the human space mission -- in the next four years.Around 17 minutes after lifting off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5.08pm, GSLV MkIII-D2 placed GSAT-29 in a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with the required inclination to the equator. A few days later, the satellite will be placed in its final geostationary orbit (GEO) using the onboard propulsion system. It will be located at 55°E longitude.Isro chairman K Sivan said, “With the successful launch, we have completed the developmental flights of GSLV MkIII.” He said the first operational flight of GSLV MkIII would be Chandrayaan-2 planned in January 2019. The rocket would also carry human to space. “The first unmanned mission will be in December 2020. There will be one more unmanned mission before the manned mission. The manned mission is planned for December 2021.”He said nearly 90% of the activity in this mission had been done by industry for both the launcher and the satellite. “They supplied flawless systems and hardware for the mission,” he said.Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre director V Narayanan said the he indigenous cryogenic engine had performed “exceedingly well.”The 3,423kg communication satellite is designed for a mission life of 10 years. The three-axis body-stabilised multibeam satellite carries two high throughput communication transponders (Ka/Ku-band) intended to meet the communication requirements of users, including those in remote areas. In addition, several new technologies such as Q and V band payload, data transmission through optical communication link will be demonstrated.GSAT-29 is among the advanced high throughput communication satellites planned by Isro, which has already launched the GSAT-19. The other two in the immediate pipeline are: GSAT-11, which was recalled from its launchpad earlier this year and is gearing up for a December launch, and GSAT-20, which is likely to be launched in 2019.Together, these satellites will usher in an age of high-speed internet connectivity in the country, bridging the gap between cities and the hinterland.Director of U R Rao Satellite Centre P Kunhikrishnan said GSAT-11 would be ready for launch from French Guyana on December 4.GSLV-MKIIIA three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, GSLV-MKIII has two solid strap-ons as first stage, a liquid propellant core as second stage and a cryogenic as third stage. It is designed to carry 4-tonne class of satellites to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) or about 10 tonnes to low earth orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II.That the present mission was only the second developmental flight of GSLV-MKIII means that the space agency needs a glitch-free launch to keep its date with the bigger missions while also establishing this class of rocket as its mainstay.