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Friday, August 28, 2015

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) Successfully Launches GSLV-D6 , having an indigenous cryogenic engine Thursday August 27,2015

 

Staging yet another spectacular launch of three-stage heavy weight rocket GSLV D-6 with indigenous cryogenic upper stage, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday Aug 27,2015 successfully put in orbit GSAT-6 communication satellite.
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The GSLV D-6 is the second successful consecutive launch of the GSLV series with indigenous cryogenic upper stage. ISRO had on January 5, 2014 launch GSLV D-5, after a similar attempt failed in 2010.

About 17 minute after the 49.1 metre high spacecraft lifted off raised from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre with a lift-off weight of 416 tonne at 4.52 pm, the rocket placed GSAT-6 in the intended orbit. 

The 2,117 kg-weighing GSAT-6 communication satellite is aimed at primarily benefiting the country's strategic users and other specific authorised users. The cuboid-shaped satellite with a mission life of nine years also includes a first-of-its-kind S-Band unfurlable antenna with a diameter of six metre. This is the largest antenna ISRO has ever made for a satellite. 

Though the Thursday's launch is the nine time ISRO was using GSLV rocket, this is the third time the rocket was being launched with indigenous cryogenic upper stage. "GSLV-D6 flight is significant since it intends to continue the testing of CUS," according to ISRO. 

The cryogenic stage was "technically a very complex system" compared to solid or earth-storable liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural challenges, ISRO stated. 

A cryogenic rocket stage "is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns" compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages, it added. The cryogenic stages fires for a nominal duration of 720 seconds during the launch. 


Note

ISRO is the sixth space agency in the world after those of US, Russia, Japan, China and France to have joined the indigenous cryogenic regime, which is crucial for launch of heavier satellites weighing more than two tonnes.

GSAT-6 is the 25th geostationary communication satellite built by ISRO and the 12th in the GSAT series. The satellite is equipped with five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users

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