The Indian Space Research Organisation on Thursday launched the GSAT-6A satellite into space from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The high-power communication satellite, which will help the research agency develop new communication technologies, took off on the GSLV-F08 rocket.
The satellite lifted off at 4.56 pm from the second launch pad of the space centre, ISRO said. It was put into orbit around 17 minutes later.
A 27-hour countdown for the launch had started at 1.56 pm on Wednesday.
The rocket weighs 415.6 tonnes, has a height of 49.1 metres, and has two improvements from previous launches – it has a high-thrust engine and an electromechanical actuation system instead an electro-hydraulic actuation system.
This is the 12th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F08.
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