JOIN USThe indigenous cryogenic engine boosting India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will launch the GSAT-4 satellite in the second week of August.
With an otherwise good track record, earlier attempts to launch the GSLV using the indigenously developed cryogenic engine had caused much embarrassment to the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
Answering a specific question from Deccan Herald, Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan said on Monday: “The cryogenic engine has been modified, tested and integrated. The GSLV-D5 will launch the GSAT-4 in the second week of August (after August 6).”
The GSAT–4 satellite, with six extended C-band and six Ku-band transponders, is envisaged to enhance communication transponder capacity, in line with the need felt by Isro based on demand.
Further, he said that the integration of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV XL), which will launch the Mars Orbiter Mission in November, will begin on July 29. “Two payloads for the Mars project have also been received for integration,” Radhakrishnan said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP) here, which unveiled a new 40-minute audio visual sky theatre programme titled “Our Solar System”.
The programme, officials said, is a first of its kind in India, presenting a planetarium show through indigenously created 3D animation and is projected in the Full Dome Format. The format facilitates an entire sky-theatre dome to be used for casting images and videos, a real treat for the audience.
The first part of the programme dealing with stars and constellations is shown using Classical Projection System. The second part of the programme about the solar system makes use of the Digital Projection System.