GSLV-D5 launch: Countdown starts

At last, on this moving wheel of life, now the time has come when the countdown has begun for the prestigious project GSLV-D5 ever undertaken by Indian Space Organization (ISRO). On Saturday at 11a.m the count down started. The countdown began before 29 hours of the actual launch

According to the Mission Readiness Review (MRR) team of ISRO, the prestigious project of GSLV-D5/ GSAT 14 launch will take place as scheduled earlier, on January 05, 2014 at 4.18 p.m.

GSLV-D5 is the 8th satellite being launched by ISRO in the Geosynchronous Satellite series. It is intended to launch GSAT-14, a communication satellite into the GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit). According to ISRO sources, after reaching GTO, GSAT-14 will use its own propulsion system to reach its geostationary orbital home and will be stationed at 74º East longitude. GSAT-14 will help provide many satellite based communication services to the country including tele-education and telemedicine.

Apart from this, ISRO has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Indian Air Force, Bangalore in March 2009 to carry out the following:

ISRO currently does not have any project on "Man to Moon". In view of this, there is no scope of recruitment of crew for ISRO based on this MoU.