The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO successfully launched its 40th communication satellite GSAT-31 from the spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite with a mission life of 15 years will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites and augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.

Weighing about 2,535 kg, the satellite was launched onboard the Ariane-5 (VA247) from Kourou in French Guiana. The satellite provides Indian mainland and island coverage. GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, DTH television services, cellular back haul connectivity and many such applications.

The satellite will also provide wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over large oceanic region comprising large part of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean using wide band transponder, ISRO said.

Did You Know?

• The Indian Space Research Organisation is the space agency of the Government of India headquartered in the city of Bengaluru.
• Its vision is to “harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.”
• ISRO built India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975.
• In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3.
• ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits.
• In January 2014, ISRO used an indigenous cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-14.