The Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday successfully launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-29, which was put in its orbit by India’s heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III). The GSLV Mk III is the designated rocket for India’s first human spaceflight proposed for 2022. Today’s launch was a key test to the GSLV Mk III as it carried the GSAT-29 weighing 3,423 kg and placed it into Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO) just over 16 minutes into its flight.
The GSLV Mk III took flight as scheduled for 5.08 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. This was the third flight undertaken by ISRO’s most powerful rocket.
The GSLV Mk III has so far undergone one experimental and one developmental flight and Wednesday’s flight was the second developmental flight for the rocket.
