This is CMS-01, an Indian communications satellite that will replace the aging GISAT-12 craft that has been operational for 9 years, one year longer than originally planned.

The new satellite, originally called GISAT-12R (with ‘R’ meaning “replacement”) will feature upgraded technologies from its predecessor and will be placed in Geostationary Orbit in a specific location directly above the Indian Ocean.

Image: A GISAT craft being placed inside a payload fairing for launch. Credit: Indian Space Research Organisation

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle - XL (PSLV-XL) is the six side-mounted solid rocket booster configuration of the overall PSLV family of expendable rockets flown by India.

It is the most-used rocket of the PSLV line and is capable of launching missions to the Moon and Mars.

Its first flight occurred on October 22nd, 2008.

The rocket uses a mixture of solid and liquid propellant stages to get to orbit. The first stage, also called the core, is a solid propellant rocket, and the six side-mounted solid propellant boosters are bolted to it.

A liquid fueled second stage then takes over, followed by a third stage that is powered by solid propellant.

A liquid fueled fourth stage serves as the final part of the rocket. The engines on this stage are restartable to place satellites into their proper orbits.

Image: ISRO

The Second Launch Pad was built between March 1999 and December 2003.

It was used for the first time on May 5th, 2005 and can launch three different types of rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-II, and the GSLV Mk-III.

The pad has launched several important missions. One of them was Chandrayaan-1, India's first Moon mission and the flight that discovered water on the lunar surface.

The pad is also the one India plans to use for its upcoming human space program.

Satish Dhawan Space Centre

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre, or Sriharikota Range, is a rocket launch center operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

It is located in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and was chosen for its remote location. The center launched its first suborbital mission in 1971 and first orbital flight on August 10th, 1979.

The spaceport received its current name in 2005 when it was named in honor of Satish Dhawan, the former head of the ISRO.

The facility has two launch pads and will be the base of India's upcoming human spaceflight program.

Image credit: ISRO