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ISRO launches India's heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III carrying cutting-edge communication satellite GSAT-29

Kashmir Times. Dated: 11/15/2018 2:48:35 PM

SRIHARIKOTA, Nov 14 (Agencies): India`s heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III, carrying cutting-edge communication satellite GSAT-29, was launched into the outerspace from Sriharikota on Wednesday evening.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III) is 43.4 metre tall and weighs 640 ton.
The countdown for the rocket launch began at 2.50 p.m. on Tuesday.
"This is GSLV-MkIII-D2 second developmental flight. It is going to launch very important and high throughput satellite GSAT-29. The satellite will be useful in Jammu and Kashmir and North East region for providing connectivity under the Centre's Digital India programme", said ISRO Chairman K Sivan.
Within 16 minutes of lift-off, the rocket will sling the 3,423 kg GSAT-29 it Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO). Then the satellite will be lifted to the final Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO) at a height of 36,000 km from the earth.
With a design life of 10 years, the GSAT-29 satellite carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput 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, ISRO said.
The GSLV-MkII D2, a three-stage launch vehicle, also holds a lot of promise.
"This vehicle (GSLV-MkIII) is going to launch the Chandrayaan-II and also the manned mission. We are getting prepared for that," said Sivan. ISRO's Chandrayan -II is hoping to send an orbiter, lander and rover to the moon by early January of 2019.