Countdown for launch of GSLV-F-Zero-Five begins today

The 29 hour countdown for the launch of the rocket GSLV-F-Zero-Five carrying the advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR begins this morning at 11.10 hrs. The launch vehicle rocket carrying the payload will be launched tomorrow evening at 4.10 pm from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikotta. 

The Mission Readiness Review Committee and the Launch Authorization Board of the national space agency ISRO cleared the countdown after an exhaustive study of the mission preparedness at the spaceport. The satellite INSAT 3DR weighing 2211 kilogram during lift 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 8 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. 

In this mission, the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage is being carried on-board



the launch vehicle for the fourth time. 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 tomorrow's launch, the nation’s own Cryogenic Upper Stage in the rocket is set to graduate from test phase to operational phase.

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. In this mission, the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage is being used in the rocket for the fourth time. 

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 tomorrow's launch, the nation’s own Cryogenic Upper Stage in the rocket is set to graduate from test phase to operational phase.