The Indian Space Research organisation launched GSLV F14 at 5.35 pm on Saturday from the second launch pad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota. Based on the confirmation from all the control centres, the automatic launch sequence was initiated. The INSAT 3DS has been injected into the destined path at around 20 minutes after the lift-off. All three stages including the cryogenic stage performance were normal as expected. The 51-metre-tall rocket carrying the weather satellite INSAT 3DS took off with a majestic roar from the Space Centre witnessed by thousands of onlookers at the visitors gallery and scientists at the control centre.
Mr. Somanath, Chairman ISRO, has said that INSAT 3DS is a successful mission and the solar panels have been deployed. Speaking after the launch at Sriharikota, Somanath said that it was a great team effort of all the departments of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He said that INSAT 3DS is a next generation satellite. The Mission Director, Tomy Joseph, said that GSLV which is always referred to as a naughty boy has become an obedient boy and proved it with a majestic lift off. He said that it was a 50 kilogram payload increase for INSAT 3DS. He said that ISRO was looking forward for the launch of NASAR by NASA. The Satellite Director, Imtiaz Ahmed, said that it was important for ISRO to build larger space crafts in future and ISRO was on the path of development towards it. He said that the present payload systems is for the prediction of weather in both land and sea, precise forecasting, disaster data collection and dissemination capability and providing continuity of services. INSAT 3DS is being tracked by the control centres at Brunei and Port Blair. A. Rajarajan, the Director of Sathish Dhawan Space Centre said that this was the heaviest satellite launch and is smoothly progressing in all stages. He said that the target was achieved perfectly.
