Sunday’s launch is India’s eighth flight of GSLV and also the fourth GSLV?developmental flight.
- Sunday’s launch is India’s eighth flight of GSLV and also the fourth GSLV?developmental flight. During this flight, the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) was flight tested for the second time.
- GSAT-14 is India’s 23rd geostationary communication satellite, as four of GSAT-14’s predecessors were launched by GSLV during 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007.
- GSAT-14 would join the group of India’s nine operational geostationary satellites.
- Twin purpose of Rs 365 crore launch - To test the ISRO cryogenic engine and put in orbit communication satellite GSAT-14.
- 49.13-metre tall rocket of 414.75 tonnes slung the 1,982 kg GSAT-14 towards intended orbit around 17 minutes into flight.
- A cryogenic engine is more efficient providing more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt.
- The 3-stage engine rocket GSLV’s core of first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second stage is the liquid fuel and the third stage is the cryogenic engine.
- Indigenous launch saves precious foreign exchange as Ariane used to launch India’e heavy satellites, mostly off South America, paying as much as '500 crore for sending up 3.5-tonne communication satellites. The cost of GSLV is Rs 220 crore, according to Mr K. Radhakrishnan, chairman, ISRO.
- ISRO can only send smaller communication satellites, say up to 2.2 tonnes till it gets an advanced GSLV variant – GSLV-Mark III – that can launch satellites weighing up to four tonnes.
- GSLV’s success is critical for ISRO to move to the next stage in space exploration as it plans to land a spacecraft on the moon and launch a manned space flight.
( Source : agencies/ dc )
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