The countdown has begun for the Wednesday evening launch of India's heaviest rocket GSLV-Mk III, carrying communication satellite GSAT-29 at the rocketport in Sriharikota, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
Standing at 43.4 metre tall and weighing 640 ton, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III) is expected to blast off at 5.08 pm on Wednesday, according to the Indian space agency.
The countdown for the rocket launch began at 2.50 pm on Tuesday, and will take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The rocket carrying the 3,423 kg GSAT-29 will sling it into Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO) just over 16 minutes into its flight. Then the satellite will be lifted to the final Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO) at a height of 36,000 km from the earth.
With a design life of 10 years, the GSAT-29 satellite carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders intended to meet the communication requirements of users, including those in remote areas.
In addition, several new technologies such as Q/V-band payload and data transmission through optical communication link will be demonstrated. This will help in realising future advanced satellites, ISRO said.
According to the Times of India, the communication satellite is specifically meant for Jammu and Kashmir as well as the northeastern regions of India.