The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the rocket GSLV-F-Zero-Five, carrying an advanced weather satellite 'INSAT-3DR' on Thursday at 4.10 pm from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
The satellite INSAT 3DR, weighing 2,211kg during take off, will be put into a geo-transfer orbit by the rocket initially. The satellite will then be taken to its designated geosynchronous orbit using its own propulsion systems.
INSAT 3DR has an operational life of eight years and is equipped with modern instruments to study weather patterns and to help in the surface-level search and rescue operations.
The launch of the GSLV-F05 will be the tenth flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, designed to inject 2 to 2.5 ton class of satellites in geostationary orbits.
A significant aspect of the mission on Thursday is that, it is set to be the first operational flight of the GSLV carrying indigenous cryogenic engine.
Its previous journeys were test flights, including the GSLV-D5 and D6 missions in January 2014 and August 2015, that were resounding successes. With today's launch, the nation’s own Cryogenic Upper Stage in the rocket is set to graduate from test phase to operational phase.
