New Delhi, June 5 (Agencies): India on Monday launched a communication satellite weighing 3,136kg using its most powerful rocket, in a further advance of its space programme aimed at winning a bigger share of the $300 billion global space industry.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III lifted off from the Sriharikota space centre, around 120km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, at 5.28pm (1158 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
At 3,136kg, the GSAT-19 satellite was the heaviest India has put in orbit, ISRO said. The United States, Russia, China, Japan and European Space Agency have launched satellites weighing over three tonnes.
ISRO hopes the successful launch will help it attract more foreign business in the lucrative heavier segment of the satellite business.
Till now, ISRO had to depend on foreign launchers for communication satellites weighing more than 2,300 kg.
The GSLV MkIII-D1 is capable of lifting payloads of up to 4,000 kg into the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and 10,000kg into the low Earth orbit.
ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar had said the mission is important as “it was the heaviest-ever rocket and satellite to be launched from the country”.
Earlier, ISRO had launched the 3,404 kg GSAT-18 communication satellite from Ariane, French Guiana.
The GSLV-Mk III-D1 is a three-stage vehicle with indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine designed to carry heavier communication satellites into the GTO.
Monday’s mission improves India's communication resources, as a single GSAT-19 satellite will be equivalent to having a constellation of six to seven of the older variety of communication satellites.
