India successfully launches latest communication satellite GSAT-31

Bengaluru Indias latest communication satellite GSAT31 was successfully launched by European launch services provider Arianespaces rocket from French Guiana in the early hours of WednesdayBlasting off from Ariane Launch Complex at Kourou a French territory located in the northeastern coast of South America at 231 am IST the Ariane5 vehicleinjected GSAT31 into the orbit in a flawless flight lasting about 42 minutesIt gives me great pleasure on the successful launch of GSAT31 spacecraft onboard Ariane5 Indian Space Research Organisations ISRO Satish Dhawan Space Centre SDSC Director S Pandian said at Kourou soon after the launchCongratulation to Arianespace on the successful launch and precise injection of the satellite into the orbit he addedThe GSAT31 is a high power communication satellite with Kuband and it is going to serve and replace some of the satellites that are going to expire soon he said furtherAriane5 commenced Arianespacersquos 2019 launch activity with another spectacular liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana Relieve the excitement from just moments ago VA247 pictwittercomaroZgI0bj5mdash Steacutephane Israeumll arianespaceceo February 5 2019GSAT31 separated from the Ariane5 in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee nearest point to Earth of 250 km and an apogee farthest point to Earth of 35850 km inclined at an angle of 30 degree to the equator ISRO said in a release after the launchAfter separation from Ariane5 the two solar arrays of GSAT31 were automatically deployed in quick succession and ISROs Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT31 and found its health parameters normal it saidIn the days ahead scientists will undertake phasewise orbitraising maneuvers to place the satellite in Geostationary Orbit 36000 km above the equator using its onboard propulsion systemDuring the final stages of its orbit raising operations the antenna reflector of GSAT31 will be deployed and following this the satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration the space agency said adding that the satellite will be operational after the successful completion of all inorbit testsWeighing about 2536 kg the Indian satellite GSAT31 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the inorbit satellitesThe satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSATGSAT satellite series the space agency said adding that it will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islandsGSAT31 is the countrys 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISROs enhanced I2K Bus utilising the maximum bus capabilities of this typeThis satellite will augment the Kuband transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit ISRO saidWith a mission life of around 15 years GSAT31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks Television uplinks Digital Satellite News Gathering DTHtelevision services cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applicationsIt will also provide wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over a large oceanic region comprising large parts of Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean using a wide band transponderAccording to ISRO two Kuband beacon down link signals are transmitted by the satellite for ground tracking purposeGSAT31 has a unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage ISRO chairman K Sivan saidGSAT31 will provide DTH Television Services connectivity to VSATs for ATM Stockexchange Digital Satellite News Gathering DSNG and egovernance applications The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications he said in a releaseRiding in Ariane5s upper position HS4SGS1 was released first in the flight sequence with its separation occurring about 27 minutes after liftoffComprising two payloads Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1Hellas Sat 4 also called HS 4SGS1 is a geostationary condosat for KACST King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Saudi Arabia and Hellas Sat Greece CyprusHS 4SGS1 will provide telecommunication capabilities including television Internet telephone and secure communications in the Middle East South Africa and Europe Arianespace said on its websiteGSAT30 is another geostationary satellite to be lofted soon by Arianespace for ISROSoon we will be getting back to French Guiana sometime in June July to launch GSAT30 Pandian saidCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever