GSLV-MKIII-D2 blasts off, decks clear for Chandrayaan-2

India's heaviest rocket, GSLV-MKIII-D2, successfully launched a 3,423-kilogram communication satellite GSAT-29 into orbit on Wednesday after blasting off from the Sriharikota spaceport. The satellite would help communication needs of people living in remote parts of the country, like Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

With the successful launch of the heaviest satellite on its second developmental flight, the GSLV MKIII is now all set to carry Chandrayaan 2 in its first operational mission in January next year.

The 27-hour-countdown for the launch began at 2.50 pm on Tuesday and the rocket blasted off at 5.08 pm from the spaceport at Sriharikota, over 100 km from Chennai.

ISRO chairman K Sivan said the country had achieved a significant milestone following the successful launch and injection of the satellite.

The 3,423-kg GSAT-29 carries Ka and Ku band high throughput transponders which will provide communication services under the Centre's Digital India programme, Sivan said, adding that the satellite also carried three advanced technology demonstrator payloads: Q and V band payload, optical communication technology and high-resolution imaging from GEO. "This advanced payloads will make technology breakthrough in GSAT series. It could be incorporated into future satellites," he said.

ISRO scientists termed the launch as "crucial" for the space agency, as the rocket would be used for the ambitious Chandrayaan-2 and the country's manned space missions as well. Sivan said while the launch vehicle's first operational mission was going to be "none other than Chandrayaan" in January 2019, "this fantastic vehicle is going to carry humans to space in three years from now".

The satellite would be placed in its final Geostationary Orbit using the onboard propulsion system and it may take a few days after separation from the launcher to reach the orbital slot, ISRO said.

The GSLV-MkIII-D2 is a three-stage launch vehicle with two solid strap-ons, a liquid core stage and a cryogenic upper stage. India currently has two fully operational rockets: The polar satellite launch vehicle and GSLV-Mk II, with a lift-off mass of 415 tonnes and a carrying capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

Key Achievement

• With the successful launch, GSLV MKIII can now carry Chandrayaan-2 
• GSLV-MKIII-D2 is a 3-stage launch vehicle with two solid strap-ons, liquid core stage.
• India currently has two fully operational rockets: The polar satellite launch vehicle and GSLV-MK-II with a lift-off mass of 415 tonnes.