KOCHI: Isro will have a busy year-end with three rocket launches. GSLV Mk III will launch a high throughput communication satellite GSAT-29 of 3.5 tonne payload on November 14. The satellite can provide high speed internet and help bridge the digital divide .

PSLV-C43 will launch a remote sensing satellite HySIS and 30 foreign commercial satellites on November 26. Isro will fly a GSLV Mk II with a communication satellite GSAT-7A weighing 2.2 tonne on December 14, said VSSC director S Somanath.

Isro chairman K Sivan said, “All three rockets and GSLV Mk II are almost ready.” Preparations are also on for launch of Chandrayaan-2 and for the human space flight pr gramme, he added.

Sivan also visited Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the lead centre for launch vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram on October 20, to take stock of the situation.

“The 5.7 tonne GSAT 11 is set for launch from Kourou in French Guyana, it was earlier planned for launch in May. GSAT-29 and GSAT-11 will bridge the digital divide in the country offering high speed internet connectivity with 14GB high bandwidth data transfer speed and faster live streaming of video,” said Somanath.

GSLV Mk III rocket has been fully assembled at Sriharikota. PSLV C43 is also assembled and will be integrated with the satellite. Everything is almost set and is in the final stages of review, he added.

Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in January next year. It will land on moon with a rover to conduct scientific experiments. Work is also progressing for Gaganyaan, an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft with a launch mass of 7,800kg. Various tests will be conducted including pad abort and launch abort tests as part of the human space project, the officials said.

