Moving a step forward in space technology, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch India’s GSLV-F09 — carrying the communication satellite GSAT-9 — on Friday.
Isro sources told DH that countdown operations of the GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57 pm on Thursday at the Sriharikota spaceport. Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the rocket will be launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. “All activities are going on smoothly,” he said.
The mission will help provide various communication applications in the Ku-band, with coverage over South Asian countries. Accordingly, the GSAT-9, a geostationary communication satellite, is configured around Isro’s standard I-2K bus, with a lift-off mass of 2,230 kg.
The main structure of the satellite is cuboidal and it is built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years.
The GSLV-F09 mission is the eleventh flight of the GSLV and the fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.
The success of the previous GSLV mission in September last year provided a much-needed boost to the future missions.
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