Scripting success on the maiden operational flight of its heavy-duty rocket fitted with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage, India on Thursday launched its advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR onboard GSLV-F05 .
Soaring new heights
49.13mm: The height of the rocket that lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4.50 pm. It majestically soared into the skies and injected the 2,211-kg INSAT-3DR into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit about 17 minutes later.
What will the satellite do?
INSAT-3DR, with a designed mission life of 10 years, will provide service continuity to earlier meteorological missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological, search and rescue services.
The significance
Thursday’s mission, the 10th flight of GSLV, assumes significance for the Indian Space Research Organisation as it is the first operational flight of the rocket fitted with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage.
The success of the GSLV programme is crucial. It will be the designated launch vehicle for second Moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, in 2017.
Big Project
Isro has spent 20 years and Rs 500 crore developing the cryogenic engine, which is spectacularly efficient, giving more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt. In future this engine could prove invaluable.
Enduring setback: The engine project endured a major setback when Dr S. Nambi Narayanan, project director of liquid propulsion system of PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle), was branded a spy and arrested in Nov. 1994.
