INDIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES SOUTH ASIA SATELLITE
:India on Friday successfully launched the South Asia Communication Satellite, fully funded by it and touted as an “invaluable gift” to its South Asian neighbours, that would provide communication and disaster support to the region.
Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation, its latest communication satellite GSAT-9 called SAS rode piggyback on the 50-m-tall rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) with the indigenous cryogenic powering the Upper Stage.
The GSLV-F09 blasted off at 4:57 pm in clear weather from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and injected the GSAT-9 into the orbit in a flawless flight.
“Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement. This will also greatly benefit South Asia & our region’s progress,” tweeted PM Narendra Modi.
The GSLV-F09 mission is the 11th flight of the GSLV.
With a lift off mass of 2230 kg, GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite providing various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries.
The satellite will enable a full range of services to neighbours including the areas of telecommunication, television, directto-home, VSATs, tele-education and telemedicine.