Bengaluru: India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was on Thursday successfully launched by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. “GSAT-17 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-238 from Kourou, French Guiana,” the city headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) announced after the mission. GSAT-17 that will strengthen Isro’s current fleet of 17 telecommunications satellites was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSLV MkIII successfully launched GSAT-19 satellite on 5 June while PSLV-C38 orbited Cartosat-2 Series satellite along with 30 co-passenger satellites on 23 June from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. GSAT-17 will be the 21st satellite from Isro to be launched by Arianespace, and its designed in-orbit operational life is about 15 years.

Source: Mint June 29, 2017 03:00 UTC