Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3) ready to launchgslv GSAT-4 ...

GSLV-D3 ready for launch from Sriharikota on April 15

Sriharikota ready to Launch GSLV-D3. The vehicle, 49 meters tall and weighing 419 tonnes, was married up with the satellite GSAT-4 earlier. When the vehicle lifts off at 4.27 p.m. on April 15. 

           It is a crucial mission because ISRO are flying own cryogenic stage for the first time in this flight. It was the most reviewed vehicle and the result of ISRO efforts of the last 19 years. The entire flight from lift-off will last 1,022 seconds. Of this duration, the indigenous cryogenic engine alone will fire for 720 seconds. At the end of 1,022 seconds, the cryogenic engine will catapult the communication satellite GSAT-4 into the orbit at a velocity of 10.2 km a second. It will be a geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 170 km and an apogee of 36,000 km.  Cryogenic technology involves the use of liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees Celsius and liquid hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Celsius. Satellite Director said GSAT-4 would have a mission life of seven years. One of the payloads would help passenger aircraft land accurately despite poor visibility.