ISRO's GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the GSLV MkIII-D2 rocket, which will place the GSAT-29- the country's high throughput communication satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSLV MkIII-D2 has been launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on Wednesday at 5:08 PM IST.

The GSLV MkIII rocket will place the GSAT 2 satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit using the onboard propulsion system and may take a few days after separation from the launcher to reach its orbital slot, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

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

GSAT-29 is a communication satellite weighing around 2423 kilograms and is designed for a mission life of 10 years. The satellite carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders with the goal to meet the communication requirements of users, especially in remote areas.

In addition, new technologies such as Q/V-band payload, data transmission through optical communication link will be demonstrated. This will help in realizing future advanced satellites. The spacecraft will be located at 55 E longitude, ISRO said.

GSLV MkIII is a three-stage, heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO and the vehicle has two solid strap-ons as the first stage, a liquid propellant core as the second stage and a cryogenic as the third stage. The rocket is designed to carry four ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II.