New Delhi, November 13: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III) to put communication satellite GSAT-29 into orbit at 5:08 pm on Wednesday. The countdown for the launch of GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota started at 2:50 pm today, ISRO said.

GSLV Mk III will carry GSAT-29 weighing 3,423 kg (just over 3.4 tonnes) and sling it into Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO) just over 16 minutes into its flight. Then the satellite will be lifted to the final Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO) at a height of 36,000 km from the earth. This will be the second developmental flight of GSLV-Mk III rocket that has a capacity of carrying four tonnes.

The GSAT-29 satellite, which has a design life of 10 years, carries Ka x Ku multi-beam and optical communication payloads for the first time, intended to meet the communication requirements of users including those in remote areas. In addition, several new technologies such as Q/V-band payload, data transmission through optical communication link will be demonstrated.

GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage, ISRO said. The first developmental flight of GSLV Mk III, the GSLV-Mk III-D1 successfully placed GSAT-19 satellite to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on June 05, 2017.

The launch is subject to weather conditions as cyclone Gaja is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu coast on November 15.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 13, 2018 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).