Know more about India's next communication satellite GSAT-14

New Delhi: The 29-hour countdown for the launch of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5) began on January 4. The Satellite Launch Vehicle will be launched from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh on January 5 .In the wake of ISRO's successful Mars mission last year, all eyes are on the space agency to see whether the GSLV, powered by its own crucial cryogenic engine, would successfully deliver its baby -communication satellite, the 1,982 kg GSAT-14 into outer space.GSAT-14 is an Indian communications satellite.GSAT-14 is expected to replace the GSAT-3 satellite, which was launched in 2004. It is based around the I-2K satellite bus, and has a dry mass of 851 kilograms. With fuel, its mass is 1,982 kilograms . The spacecraft has a design life of 12 years.It carries two Ka-band beacons which will be used to conduct research into how weather affects Ka-band satellite communications.The satellite is powered by two solar arrays, generating 2,600 watts of power.The GSLV-D5's first mission attempt with indigenous cryogenic engine was aborted at the eleventh hour on 19 August last year due to a fuel leak in its second stage. Fuel tank made of aluminium alloy called Afnor 7020 tended to develop crack over a period of time and the leak was blamed on it.This will be the eighth flight of GSLV and its fourth developmental flight. During this flight, the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) will be flight tested for the second time. According to the reports after reaching GTO, GSAT-14 will use its own propulsion system to reach its geostationary orbital home and will be stationed at 74º East longitude. GSAT-14 will help provide many satellite-based communication services to the country including tele-education and telemedicine.