The 28 hours countdown operations for the Friday launch of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) carrying GSAT-9 began on Thursday afternoon.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources told Deccan Herald that the countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission have started at 12:57 pm on 4, May, 2017.
“GSLV-F09 rocket will be launched from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) at Sriharikota on May 5”, a senior ISRO official said.
He said countdown for the launch was started after getting clearance from Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorization Board (LAB).
ISRO has planned to launch GSLV mission in a bid to provide various communication applications in the Ku-band with coverage over south Asian countries.
Accordingly, GSAT-9, a geostationary communication satellite, is configured around ISRO’s standard I-2K bus, with lift off mass of 2,230 kg.
The main structure of the satellite is cuboidal and is built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years. GSLV-F09 mission is the eleventh flight of GSLV and its fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).
The success of the previous GSLV mission in September last year provided much-needed boost for future GSLV missions to launch satellites weighing two to 2.2 tonnes using the country's indigenous cryogenic engine.
Published 04 May 2017, 09:22 IST