Boosting telecommunication services, India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was today launched successfully by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
Television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellitenews gathering are a few of the services that GSAT 18 will support in the coming days.
After a day’s delay of the launch, the European launcher Ariane-5 VA-231 blasted off around 2 AM (IST) and lofted the high power GSAT-18 into space shortly after orbiting its riding mate Sky Muster II satellite for Australian operator nbn (National Broadband Network) in a little more than 32 minute flawless flight.
The launch was originally scheduled for yesterday, but deferred by 24 hours owing to unfavourable weather conditions at Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern coast of South America.
GSAT-18 that strengthens ISRO’s current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites, was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with the Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka taking over the command and control of the spacecraft immediately after it separated from the launch vehicle.
