Proving its reliability once again, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C17 successfully launched India’s latest communications satellite, GSAT-12, into orbit. The lift-off took place on schedule at 4.48 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Shar, Sriharikota, 90 km from Nellore, on Friday.
Those who gathered to watch the launch had only a glimpse of the satellite after lift-off due to clouds. Twenty minutes after take-off GSAT-12 was hurled into space.
Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), Dr K. Radhakrishnan, said that some crucial manoeuvres related to placing the satellite 36,000 km above the equator are slated for the next six days.
GSAT-12 weighs about 1,400 kg and is the latest communication satellite built by ISRO. It has 12 extended C-band transponders to meet the country’s growing demand for transponders in a short turnaround time.
Mr Radhakrishnan said that the transponders of GSAT-12 with 36 Mhz usable bandwidth will augment the capacity in the INSAT system for various communication services such as tele-education, telemedicine and for village resource centres as well as disaster management.
With the GSAT-12 launch, India will have 175 transponders, but it is still way behind the target of 500 by 2012 set by Isro to meet the booming demand in telecom, direct-to-home and V-SAT operations.
“I am extremely happy to state that the PSVL-C17/GSAT-12 mission is successful. The launch vehicle injected the satellite very precisely into the intended orbit,” a jubilant Mr Radhakrishnan announced amid applause by scientists at the mission control centre.