Heaviest rocket injects GSAT-29 into orbit

​Sriharikota: ISRO's heavy-lift rocket GSLV-MkIII-D2 on Wednesday successfully injected into orbit the country's latest communication satellite GSAT-29 that is intended to meet the communication needs of people in remote areas in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir.

Cyclone Gaja had clouded the launch plans but with its changing course and conducive weather conditions prevailing, the rocket blasted off on schedule. The 27-hour-countdown for the launch began at 2.50 pm on Tuesday and the rocket blasted off at 5.08 pm from the spaceport at Sriharikota over 100 km from Chennai. The 3,423 kg GSAT-29 carries Ka and Ku band high throughput transponders which will provide communication services to remote places in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir, besides aid the Centre's Digital India programme, ISRO chief K Sivan said.

ISRO scientists broke into cheers as the satellite was injected into a geosynchronous orbit, 16 minutes after lift-off. Sivan said the country had achieved a significant milestone following the successful launch and the injection of the satellite into the GTO was 'precise.'

"I am extremely happy to declare that our heaviest launcher in its second mission has lifted the heaviest satellite, GSAT 29 from Indian soil, and after a majestic travel of 16 minutes, it precisely injected it into the intended Geo Transfer Orbit," he said. ISRO scientists had termed the launch crucial for the space agency as the rocket would be used for the ambitious Chandrayaan-2 and the country's manned space missions.