GSAT-10: India's Heaviest Satellite Launched Successfully Today

GSAT-10, considered being the heaviest built Indian Satellite has been launched today. The satellite has been carried by Ariane-5 rocket and will be launched on early hours of Saturday. It has been launched from French Guiana regarded as Europe’s Spaceport.

The satellite weighs 3,400 kg and is India’s 101^st Space Mission. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) stated that the spacecraft would be carrying 30 communication transponders. The 30 communication transponders include 12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and 6 Extended C-band. The launch of the satellite will be telecasted ‘Live’ on Doordarshan.

ISRO sources stated that the satellite will be providing relevant augmentation for its INSAT/GSAT Transponder capacity. Enhanced GPS accuracy signals of more than 7 meters will be provided for Airports Authority of India for civil aviation needs. The latest satellite is the second to follow INSAT/GSAT constellation with GAGAN Payload. The first satellite was GSAT-8 that was launched in May 2011.

ISRO stated that GSAT-10 will be fully operational for a total of 15 years. The total cost for the satellite launch as per ISRO’s statistics is Rs.750 Crore that includes satellite cost, expenses for launch services by European Space Consortium Arianespace and Insurance.

Some of the important personalities including GSAT-10 Project Director T.K Anuradha and N Prahlada, Director of Satellite Communication and Navigation Programme are in French Guiana for witnessing the launch. K Radhakrishnan, ISRO Chairman will be present at ISRO’s Master Control Facility in Hassan, Karnataka during the time of launch. Resources confirmed that once injection checks and health checks of satellite are completed, Master Control Facility will start receiving signals immediately from the satellite.