India successfully launched on Wednesday its latest communication satellite, GSAT-31, from the Spaceport in French Guiana on board launch vehicle Ariane 5 VA-247, India’s Department of Space said.
In a statement, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is primary research and development wing of the Department of Space, said that the communication satellite was launched successfully during the early hours at Indian time 2:31 AM from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana.
GSAT-31, with a lift-off mass of 2536 kg “will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.” “GSAT-31 has a unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage. The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands,” ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan said. “GSAT-31 will provide Direct To Home (DTH) television services, connectivity to Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSATs) for ATM, Stockexchange, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications,” he added. The Master Control Facility of the ISRO located at Hassan in the south Indian state of Karnataka, said after taking over the command and control of the satellite that the health parameters of Communications GSAT-31 is normal.
The scientists at the Master Control Facility will engage in orbit-raising manoeuvres using onboard propulsion system to place the satellite in geostationary orbit above 36,000 km from the equator. The antenna reflector of GSAT-31 will be deployed during the final stages of raising operations and after successful completion of all tests, the satellite will be operational, the statement said.
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