Context

• GSAT-29 communication satellite was successfully launched by the second developmental flight of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MkIII-D2).
• The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota. The vehicle injected the satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

About

• The GSAT-29 with a weight of 3,423 kg is a multiband, multi-beam communication satellite.
• The satellite is designed for a mission life of 10 years and will serve as a test-bed for several new technologies in the future.
• Its Ku-band and Ka-band payloads are configured to cater to the communication requirements of users including those from remote areas especially from Jammu & Kashmir and North-Eastern regions of India.
• In addition, the Q/V-Band communication payload on-board is intended to demonstrate the future high throughput satellite system technologies.
• The on-board Geo High Resolution Camera will carry out high resolution imaging.
• The on-board Optical Communication Payload will demonstrate data transmission at a very high rate through optical communication link. This unique laser based optical communication is being tested for the first time by the ISRO.

GSAT-29 is the 33rd communication satellite of India.

GSLV Mk III It is ISRO’s fifth generation three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Two massive boosters with solid propellant constitute the first stage, the core with liquid propellant form the second stage and the cryogenic engine completes the final stage. It is designed to carry 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II. The first successful mission of GSLV Mark III was an experimental suborbital flight in 2014. Subsequently, GSLV Mark III-D1 launched GSAT-19, a high throughput communication satellite, with a lift-off mass of 3150 kg, into GTO on June 5, 2017.

Significance

• With the launch, the GSAT-29 satellite aims at solving the communication barriers faced by Village Resource Centres (VRCs), which are responsible for providing space-based services to ISRO from rural areas.
• Further, India has achieved significant milestone with its heaviest launcher lifting off the heaviest satellite from the Indian soil.
• The success of GSLV MkIII-D2 marks an important milestone in Indian space programme towards achieving self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. This also marks the completion of the experimental phase of GSLV Mark III.