An Indian rocket with an over two tonne INSAT-3DR advanced weather satellite blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport in Sriharikota.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Development 5 (GSLV-F05), the 49.1 metre tall rocket, weighing 415.2 tonne rapidly took the satellite to space.
INSAT-3DR, an advanced weather satellite, was placed in orbit around 17 minutes after GSLV-F05 took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
INSAT-3DR is the second heaviest satellite placed in orbit by an indigenous cryogenic engine propelled GSLV. The 2,211kg satellite, which will provide meteorological and search and rescue data services to the country, was injected into the geostationary transfer orbit.
The satellite, with the help of its propellant, will be raised to the final geostationary orbit after two days.
It was GSLV’s 10th flight. It was GSLV’s fourth flight with the desi cryogenic engine CE-7.5, with the first three being developmental flights. This is the third successful launch with the indigenous cryogenic engine in GSLV. It has demonstrated its consistent performance and proved to be an operational launch vehicle of India.
ISRO called the present one an operational flight as the space agency was confident about the technology and its success.
The GSLV is a three stage rocket. The first stage is fired by solid fuel and its four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second is powered by liquid fuel and the third is the ISRO-developed cryogenic engine that is more efficient as it provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt.