The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch a path breaking communication satellite GSAT- 19 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota today.
The GSAT-19 satellite is expected to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Digital India’ dream as it would change the way communication is being done in the country.
ISRO’s series of communication satellites started with the name INSAT (Indian National Satellite) series. The new generation of INSATs is now named as GSATs (Geo Synchronous Satellites).
India’s heaviest rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III-D1) weighing 640 tonnes would be launching the communication satellite GSAT- 19 with a lift-off mass of 3,136 kilograms. This will be the heaviest satellite being launched from India till date.
After its separation from the GSLV MKIII in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), GSAT-19 will use its own propulsion system to reach its geostationary orbital home. The satellite is being termed as “a game changer communications satellite for India” as it would alone do the work of 6-7 of the older variety of communication satellites in space.
Once the GSLV-Mk III- D1/GSAT-19 mission becomes successful, India would become self-reliant to launch four-tonne satellites on its own rocket. Earlier, the ISRO had to hire rockets from foreign space agencies to execute the operation, which cost huge amount of money.
By Baishakhi Dutta
