Indian Space Agency all set to launch the heaviest Satellite

India's space agency, Indian space research organization (ISRO), is set to break novel ground in space field in the second week of July with the first-ever launch of an Insat-class satellite, the heaviest so far, for commercial gains from home soil.

The space agency is all set to launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in the second week of July, which will carry the INSAT 4C, a 2,000-kg class communications satellite, into the geo-synchronous transfer orbit. The three-stage GSLV is a 49-metre tall rocket that weighs over 40 tonnes at take-off.

The new communications satellite is due to take off in mid-July from Sriharikota, country's spaceport on the southeastern coast of Andhra Pradesh.

The rocket will be the first GSLV flight to be launched from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, said M. Annamalai, Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR (another name of Sriharikota), on Thursday.

It is anticipated that the latest move will catapult the country into the multi-billion dollar launch market, and bring it will help reserve the seat in the elite space club of a handful countries.

ISRO officials are expecting about a July 10-15 timeframe for the launch of INSAT 4C by a geo-synchronous launch vehicle from the spaceport here, giving a push to direct-to-home television broadcast.

This is for the first time that India’s space agency is putting into space a two-tonne class satellite. Loaded with 12 high-powered KU band transponders, the 2,180 kg spacecraft is designed for a mission life of 10 years.

"Preparations are on for the launch from the second launchpad," M Annamalai said.

Launches from hometown are possibly to be 30-35% cheaper than other countries. The Indian Space agency is investing $ 543 million to upgrade infrastructure for launching heavier rockets to carry satellites weighing four tonne.

ISRO officials estimated that launch from a homegrown rocket meant reducing launch costs by one-third - if the same was to be launched from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana by an ariane vehicle; India has to pay 30 to 35% more.