CHENNAI: In its sixth flight with indigenous cryogenic upper stage, the Indian Space Research Organisation will launch GSLV F08 rocket with GSAT-6A communication satellite from Sriharikota on Thursday.
The rocket will take off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 4.56 pm.
The 27-hour countdown for the launch began at 1.56 pm on Wednesday. After a flight of 18 minutes, the rocket will place the communication satellite into the targeted geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Following orbit raising manoeuvres using the onboard propulsion system, the satellite will be placed at the geostationary orbit at the height of 36,000 km.
GSAT-6A satellite, weighing 2,140 kg, provides mobile communication for India through multibeam coverage facility. It is a high power S-band communication satellite with the similar features like GSAT-6 launched in 2015.
The satellite carries 20-feet unfurlable antenna that could be useful for satellite-based communications and network management techniques. “It will establish connectivity between users and the subscribers directly,” Isro officials said.
The satellite will provide a platform for developing technologies such as demonstration handheld ground terminals and network management techniques. These are useful in satellite-based mobile communication applications.
The rocket's second stage has two improvements - induction of high thrust Vikas engine and electromechanical actuation system.
The 415-tonne GSLV F08 rocket is the 12th flight of GSLV. So far, Isro has launched two dozen communication satellites starting from INSAT-2 in 1992.
Within weeks of this launch, Isro is also planning to launch the replacement navigation satellite with the PSLV rocket.
