Chennai, Oct. 30 -- The Indian space agency by slightly tweaking the satellite ejection orbit has enabled its heavy lift rocket LVM3 to carry strategic satellite CMS-03, weighing slightly more than its rated capacity, into the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
On November 2, Indian rocket LVM3 will carry the country's latest defence satellite GSAT-7R or CMS-03, weighing about 4.4 ton. The satellite is for the Indian Navy's use to monitor the ocean and other places.
Interestingly the three-staged LVM3 rocket, weighing 642 ton and standing 43.5 metres tall, can carry only about 4 ton to GTO and 10 ton to low earth orbit (LEO). Communication satellites are inserted into GTO by the rockets at about 36,000 km apogee, the furthest point in t...