ISRO’s latest achievements and upcoming programmes
ISRO’s successfully launched heaviest satellite GSAT-11
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s heaviest satellite GSAT-11 (weighing 5,854 kg) by Ariane-5 VA246 rocket from Kourou Launch Zone, French Guiana in South America.
About GSAT-11
• The GSAT-11 also called -Big Bird.
• The GSAT-11 is the next generation high throughput communication satellite that will play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country.
• The satellite is expected to have a lifespan of 15 years.
ISRO launches military communication satellite GSAT-7A from Sriharikota
• ISRO launched its military communication satellite GSAT-7A from
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F11) successfully launched the communication satellite GSAT-7A from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota Andhra Pradesh.
• The satellite GSAT-7A is the 35th Indian communication satellite weighing 2,250 kg.
• The satellite is expected to add a new space-based dimension to the way Indian Air Force interlinks,
operates and communicates with its aircraft as they fly and with command centres on ground.
• GSAT-7A will be the first satellite built primarily for the IAF to qualitatively unify its assets and improve combined, common intelligence during operations.
• GSAT-7A is designed to expand the communication capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
ISRO launches India’s first hyperspectral imaging satellite
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched country’s first advance earth observation satellite Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS).
• The satellite was launched on board of ISRO’s workhorse PSLV-C43 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
ISRO successfully launches communication satellite GSAT-29
• On 14th November 2018, ISRO successfully launched the communication satellite GSAT-29 through its most powerful and heavy lift “rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MkIII-D2).
• The satellite was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
Key points of GSAT-29 satellite
• GSAT-29 satellite which weighs 3,423 kg is the heaviest satellite launched from India.
• GSAT-29 carries Ka/Ku-band high throughput communication transponders designed to improve telecommunication and internet services under the ‘Digital India’ program in J&K and Northeast.
• GSAT-29 is a multibeam, multiband communication satellite.
Key points of GSLV Mk III
• India’s Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (GSLV Mk-III) weighs 641 tons, which is equal to the weight of five fully loaded passenger planes.
• The height of the rocket is 43 meters which is higher than the 13-storey building.
• The interesting fact is that ‘Bahubali’ rocket is the heaviest of all operational launch vehicles in India, also the shortest in size.
• The rocket took 15 years to complete.
• Each launch of GSLV-Mk III costs upwards of Rs 300 crores to the space organisation.
Gaganyaan ISRO’s man mission to moon
ISRO has set a ‘target’ of achieving the country’s ambitious manned mission to space by 2021, with the first unmanned programme of ‘Gaganyaan’ planned for December 2020.
• GSLV-MkIII-D2, the launch vehicle will be used to carry an Indian astronaut to space.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia’s federal space agency Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (ROSCOSMOS) have agreed to worked together for first manned space mission Gaganyaan.