India's heaviest rocket GSLV MK3-D1 carrying communication satellite GSAT-19 lifts off

India's heaviest launcher till date, GSLV-MkIII D1 was blasted off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh today. 

The three stage, heavy lift vehicle, weighing 640 tonnes, rose into the skies majestically with GSAT 19, a communication satellite parked in the upper stage. Weighing 3136 kg at lift off, GSAT 19 is the heaviest satellite to be launched indigenously.

The 43.43 m tall launch vehicle had the capability of launching 4 tonne class satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit and more than ten tonne satellites into polar sun synchronous orbit.

GSAT 19 would be separated from the launch vehicle's indigenously built cryogenic upper stage 16 minutes 20 seconds after the launch at an altitude of 179.146 km with the initial velocity being 10260.10 metres per second.

The intended geosynchronous transfer orbit would be 170 km perigee (closest to earth) and 35975 km apogee (farthest to earth) with an inclination of 21.5 degree.

The satellite is a high throughout communication satellite with KU and KW transponders. Besides it carried geostationary radion spectometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of charged particles and the influence of space ration on satellites and their electronic components.

GSAT 19 also featured certain advanced spacecraft technologies including miniaturised heat pipe, fibre optic gyro, micro electro-mecianical systems accelerometer, Ku band TTC transponder as well as an indigenous lithium ion battery. 

The satellite would have a ten year life span.