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Countdown starts for Friday rocket launch
Friday, 15 July 2011, 00:20 IST
Chennai, July 13 (IANS) Countdown for the Friday evening launch of Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C17 (PSLV-C17), carrying a communication satellite, started at 11.48 a.m. Wednesday at the Sriharikota rocket port, around 80 km from here.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) cleared the rocket launch Tuesday and the 53-hour countdown started Wednesday morning. The launch time is 4.48 p.m. Friday.
During the countdown, filling of liquid propellant for the rocket's second and fourth stages/engines will be carried out. It is carrying a communications satellite GSAT-12.
PSLV-C17 rocket, standing 44 metres tall, is a four-stage (engine) rocket powered by solid and liquid propellants alternatively.
The first and third stages are fired by solid propellant and the second and fourth stages are fired by liquid propellant.
ISRO officials told IANS the solid fuel stages are cast ready while the liquid propellant will be filled hours before the blast-off.
During the countdown, mandatory checks on the rocket and the satellite, including charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks, will be performed.
Readiness of various ground systems such as tracking radar systems and communication networks will also be checked, ISRO said.
The GSAT-12 satellite weighs 1,410 kg at lift-off, has 12 extended c-band transponders - automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals.
The satellite is expected to serve the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) sector. VSATs are used to transmit data like point of sale transactions or to provide satellite internet access and others.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS
