ISRO all set to launch heaviest rocket GSLV-Mark III today; some interesting facts

ISRO is all set to launch India’s heaviest rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) at 5:28 pm on Monday. It will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

ISRO to launch GSLV-Mark III into geo synchronous orbit from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota at 5: 28 pm, today. pic.twitter.com/hnvjolbV74

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017

Know 7 interesting facts:

1. India’s heaviest rocket till date, GSLV-Mark III (3,136 kg) weighs equivalent to the weight of five fully-loaded Boeing Jumbo Jets or as much as 200 fully grown elephants.

2. ISRO will launch three communications satellites in order to usher in an age of high-speed internet in the country. When it comes to communication infrastructure, India trail behind many countries in terms of internet speed. Therefore, ISRO will launch three communication satellites in the next 18 months, starting from the first week of June.

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3. GSAT-19 and the GSAT-11 satellites are potential game changers and can revolutionise communications by empowering a digital India and providing Internet services and streaming like never before.

4. GSAT-19 satellite will be equivalent to having a constellation of 6-7 of the older variety of communication satellites in space. Today, out of a constellation of 41 in-orbit Indian satellites, 13 are communication satellites.

5. The GSAT-11 is a mega satellite whose panels are the biggest India has ever made at over 4 metre in height, in addition this giant bird will have effectively 32 beams streaming data like never before.

6. Comparable vehicle (for GSLV-Mark III) today is Ariane-6 which is getting developed in Europe. That’s for about 6.5 tons. Once chemical propulsion of the satellites is replaced by the electric propulsion for which work is going on, then they will also come down in mass.

7. If the satellites switch over to electric propulsion from chemical propulsion, the mass could be kept at 4-ton level. From that scenario, GSLV has a long operational life and there are opportunities for launching communication satellites of India and other countries.

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