EOS-3

EOS-3 is also known as GISAT-1 (Geostationary Imaging Satellite -1).

The satellite is an Indian Earth observation craft that will operate from geostationary orbit (35,786 kilometers above Earth sea level) at 83° East above the equator just south of India and Sri Lanka.

Satellites in geostationary orbit travel at just the right speed to always remain over the same exact same spot on Earth's surface.

Once joined on orbit by its twin, EOS-5 (aka GISAT-2), the two satellites will provide images of any place in India every 5 minutes and will be able to see clearly down to 50 meters in the visible range and down to 1.5 kilometers in the near infrared and thermal range.

Image: ISRO

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is the launch vehicle developed by India, to launch communication satellites in geo transfer orbit using cryogenic third stage. Initially Russian GK supplied cryogenic stages were used. Later cryogenic stage was indigenously developed and inducted in Jan 2014 from GSLV D5 onwards. This operational fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The flight proven indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II. From January 2014, the vehicle has achieved six consecutive successes.

Stats

Height: 51.73 m (With Ogive PLF)

Number of Stages: 3

Lift Off Mass: 420 tonnes

Payload to GTO: 2,250 kg (4,960 lbs)

Payload to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) : 6,000 kg (13,227.7 lbs)

Credit: 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