Story by Shivani Ramakrishnan
(with inputs taken from Economic Times and First Post)
Chennai, November 15, 2018
India waited with bated breath as the countdown was initiated at 02:50 pm on Wednesday. With the whole world watching, it was vital that things go smoothly. India’s fate was in destiny’s hands and she did not fail. At precisely 05:08 pm, Geosynchronus Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MarkIII (Mk3), carrying the Geosynchronus Satellite (GSAT) 29 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota into space.
The homegrown third genration rocket, named ‘Baahubali’ is India’s heaviest rocket (weighing 641 tonnes) and is capable of lifting four tonnes into a geostationary orbit. Mk3, with three stages uses an Indian cryogenic engine (CE-20). GSAT-29 is the thirty-third communication satellite of India and was launched with the aim of providing internet connectivity in rural areas, especially in the remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bangalore, which was tasked with the creation of Mk3 provided live updates on Twitter, right from the countdown till the time GSAT 29 was put into orbit.
Update #1 #ISROMissions#GSLVMkIIID2
Payload fairing of 2nd developmental flight of #GSLVMkIII being transported (last week) to the Vehicle Assembly Building at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. Launch scheduled on Nov 14. Updates to continue. @PMOIndia @DrJitendraSingh @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/QcodAMSZSi— ISRO (@isro) November 12, 2018
Update #6#ISROMissions#GSLVMkIIID2#GSAT29
Filling of liquid oxygen in cryogenic stage commenced. This stage generates 2MW power. More updates to follow.— ISRO (@isro) November 14, 2018
#ISROMissions#GSLVMkIIID2 #GSAT29
Today's successful mission at a glance. pic.twitter.com/76pye5QGmx
— ISRO (@isro) November 14, 2018
Mission Accomplished! 🇮🇳
Here's a stunning capture by SDSC SHAR crew of #GSLVMkIIID2 roaring away to its destination carrying #GSAT29 under the watchful eyes of Moon. The 1st operational mission of #GSLVMkIII will be #Chandrayaan-2.
Thank You for your support. pic.twitter.com/5PPjqzOoEl
— ISRO (@isro) November 14, 2018
ISRO’s Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan took to Twitter and credited his team for the success of the launch.
#ISROMissions #GSLVMkIIID2 launches #GSAT29. Credit goes to entire #ISROTeam for this achievement, says Dr K Sivan, Chairman. pic.twitter.com/qrXLpIKa4U
— ISRO (@isro) November 14, 2018
GSLV Mark3, which was 15 years in the making is India’s second launch vehicle after Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). It will be used to launch Chandrayaan 2 next year and Gaganyaan before 2022.
Following the success of the launch which takes India closer to human spaceflight, Sivan addressed reporters and told them that the Bangalore-based organisation had chalked out 10 missions to be completed by the end of January.
