Countdown begins for India’s heaviest satellite lift-off

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is readying itself to set off India’s heaviest and powerful communication satellite into the orbit on Saturday evening.

The deferred lift-off of the launch vehicle GSLV-FO6 carrying 2,310 kg GSAT-5P satellite is likely to happen after 4 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, ISRO officials said.

They said everything is in order for the launch.

The latest GSLV mission is the first after the failure of the flight test of the home made cryogenic stage in the GSLV-D3 mission in April this year.

The launch of the satellite, which was originally scheduled for Dec 20, had been postponed after a leak in the Russian cryogenic engine on board the launch vehicle.

GSAT-5P with 24 C-band transponders and 12 extended C-band transponders is for augmenting communication services currently provided by Indian National Satellite System (INSAT).

It is meant to boost TV, telemedicine and tele-education, and telephone services.The satellite, developed by ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, is the fifth in the GSAT series. It has a designed mission life of 12 years.