Latest communication sat launch a success

Bengaluru, Feb. 6: India’s latest communication satellite GSAT- 31 was successfully put into orbit in the early hours of Wednesday by an European rocket from French Guiana, in a mission that is expected to enhance connectivity for ATMs and provide for uninterrupted DTH services.

Blasting off from Ariane Launch Complex at Kourou, a French territory located in north- eastern coast of South America at at 2.31 am ( IST), the Ariane- 5 vehicle of the European launch services provider Arianespace injected the “high power” satellite into the orbit in a flawless flight that lasted about 42 minutes.

With a mission life of 15 years and weighing about 2,536 kg, GSAT- 31 is the country’s 40th communication satellite to be built by the Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro) and will provide continuity to operational services on some of the inorbit satellites.

“It gives me great pleasure on the successful launch of GSAT- 31 spacecraft on board Ariane- 5,” Isro’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre ( SDSC) Director S Pandian said at Kourou soon after the launch.

“Congratulation to Arianespace on the successful launch and precise injection of satellite into the orbit,” he added.

The GSAT- 31 is a “high power” communication satellite with Ku- band, and it is going to serve and replace some of the satellites that are going to expire soon, he said.

◗ GSAT- 31 was successfully put into orbit by an European rocket in a mission that is expected to enhance connectivity for ATMs & provide for uninterrupted DTH services