The Indian Space Research Organisation’s GSAT-18 was launched successfully early on Thursday morning. The telecommunications satellite was launched in Ariane-5, manufactured by the French company Arianespace, from a spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Isro relies on the French company’s rockets to launch its heavier satellites, PTI reported.
The launch had been postponed by 24 hours because of unfavourable weather in the northern South American region. Isro announced that the satellite was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit around 32 minutes after the lift-off. Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar said, “Like on all previous occasions, Arianespace has again provided us a magnificent textbook launch.”
GSAT-18 is India’s largest telecommunications satellite, weigh in at 3,404 kg, and has 48 transponders that receive and send communications signals. The satellite aims to strengthen the space research organisation’s existing 14 telecom satellites.
The GSAT-18 was launched alongside Australian satellite, Sky Muster II.
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