On Thursday evening , India in yet another milestone successfully launched its INSAT-3DR advanced meterological satellite in copy-book style using its heavy geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-F05) rocket. About 17 minutes after lift-off from the SDSC Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4.50 pm, the GSLV rocket placed the 2,211 kg satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from where it would be guided to its final geostationary orbit. The launch was delayed by 40 minutes as the fuelling of the 3rd stage of the rocket took longer than expected. With the launch of INSAT-3DR, the Indian space agency has successfully launched 3 satellites weighing over two tonnes of the six satellites weighing over two tonnes it had flown in a GSLV rocket.
