GSLV-FO5 LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL

Scripting success on the maiden operational flight of its heavy-duty rocket fitted with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage, India today launched its advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR onboard GSLV-F05 from the Sriharikota spaceport. The 49.13-metre tall rocket lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 4.50 PM, majestically soared into the skies and injected the 2,211-kg INSAT-3DR into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit about 17 minutes later. Earlier, it was scheduled to lift off by 4.10 PM but due to "delay in cryostage filling operations" it was rescheduled to 4.50 PM, officials said. INSAT-3DR, with a designed mission life of ten years, will provide service continuity to earlier meteorological missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological, search and rescue services. Today's mission, the 10th flight of GSLV, assumes significance for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as it is the first operational flight of the rocket fitted with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage. Earlier, GSLV launches with indigenous cryogenic stage were under 'developmental' phase. GSLV-F05 also marked a hat-trick of success for the indigenously developed complex cryogenic upper stage (CUS) after GSLV-D5 (January 2014) and D6 (August 2015) missions, which had launched GSAT-14 and GSAT-6 satellites into precise orbit. "Today's launch of GSLV-F05 is significant since it is first operational flight of GSLV carrying Cryogenic Upper Stage. Earlier launches were developmental. The engine used was Russian engine. Today's launch is indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage and it is the first operational flight," an ISRO official told PTI. The 2014 success had propelled India into the elite group of countries boasting of the homegrown complex cryogenic engine and stage after twin failures in 2010. A jubilant ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar patted his team of scientists for "another achievement" even as he said the satellite was placed in the orbit. P Kunhikrishnan, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), said today's was a 'precision launch' where the satellite was placed in a "very accurate geosynchronous orbit."
After the INSAT-3DR is placed in orbit, scientists at Master Control Facility at Hassan, Karnataka would perform the initial orbit raising manoeuvres and later place it in circular geostationary orbit. "This process may take place a few days after launch," the ISRO official said. INSAT-3DR would supplement the services of INSAT-3D launched from French Guiana on July 26, 2013. The payloads in INSAT-3DR are Imager, Sounder, Data-Relay Transponder and Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Transponder. The multi-spectral 'Imager' would generate images of earth every 26 minutes. It would provide information on various parameters, sea surface temperature, snow cover, cloud motion winds. It is an improved version of similar imager that was used on INSAT-3A and Kalpana-1 Satellites. The 'Sounder' payload, which was earlier used in INSAT-3D, will provide information on temperature and humidity. The Data-Relay Transponder would be used for receiving meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data.
The Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Transponder would pick up and relay alert signals originating from distress beacons of maritime, aviation, among others. INSAT-3DR would join INSAT-3A and INSAT-3D to provide operational search and rescue service.

Two-three GSLV-MkII launches every year 
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has drawn up plans to make two-three GSLV missions every year, a top official said today.
The space agency registered a hat-trick of success on launch of geosynchronous launch vehicles with today's GSLV-F05 flight carrying advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR and placing it in GTO successfully.
"We had a very successful flight of GSLV-Mk II. This is third consecutive GSLV-Mk II launch with indigenous cryogenic upper stage. Last August (2015) we had successful launch of GSLV-D6. Our intent is to launch two-three GSLV-MkII missions every year in the coming years," ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters here.
GSLV rockets using the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage are designated GSLV Mk II.
Noting that ISRO scientists have geared to launch the 'SCATSAT' in two to three weeks followed by the 'GSLV-MkIII', he said, ISRO was also working on launching vehicles to Venus or to Asteroids.
"We have lined up plans to launch the Communication satellite, SAARC satellite, Earth Observation Satellite. Then we have Chandrayaan-II, we have ISRO-NASA Mission. Launch of ADITYA is also under progress. We also have the MARS Mission II. We are looking at going to Venus or to Asteroids. The discussions are going on," Kumar said.
On today's successful launch, Project Director Uma Maheshwaran said, "this (today's launch) has been a fantastic mission. In fact this is the first hat-trick of GSLV. PSLV also has so many hat-tricks till now. This is the first mission carrying heaviest satellite that was successfully deployed," he said.
Noting that the ISRO scientists have worked on "shortest working campaign" towards the launch of GSLV-F05, Project Director, Maheshwaran said, "we had lot of PSLV missions. we are also planning to have two to three GSLV launches per year. Really we are striving for more (launches)."
"In today's launch, all the parameters were perfect. The cryogenic stage has performed exceptionally well. It is a remarkable mission. Against the planned target of perigee of 170 km plus or minus five km, the launch (of satellite in GTO) happened at 169.7 km. It is a precise text book launch," he said. 
Maheshwaran said ISRO was working on a vision of increasing the weight of the payload upto 2,600 kg from the current 2,211 kg of INSAT-3DR.
On the 40 minute delay before commencing the lift-off which was pushed to 4.50 pm against the planned 4.10 pm, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Director S Somanath said while filling propellants in indigenous cryogenic stage, "first you have to fill oxygen in the circuit. We found one of the valves in the ground circuit was open and leaking gas."
"We detected the anomaly in the ground and isolated it through remote command. So this took 40 minute delay. Indigenous Cryogenic Stage is time controlled activity," he added.
To a query on reusable launch vehicle that was successfully launched last month, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K Sivan said, "it demonstrated a grand success as you are aware. Reusable vehicle is a concept which we are making it to go to orbit and come back (to earth). That study is going on."
Asked what the successful launch of GSLV-MkII means for Antrix Corporation, Antrix Corporation Chairman and Managing Director S Rakesh said, "This success has opened another door. PSLV has its own commanding market. Another vehicle (GSLV) with its own capacity is definitely adding more capability to international market. Globally, the satellite business is valued at about USD 330 billion and about USD five billion comprises launch services market."
"For PSLV we have a long list of customers whereas GSLV serves a different kind of market," he said.