ISRO launches communication satellite GSAT-17; Key things to know

Key Highlights: 

• ISRO successfully launched communication satellite GSAT-17 
• Third communication satellite to be launched in past two months
• Operational life of GSAT-17 is about 15 years

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday touched another milestone by launching GSAT-17 to its fleet of communication satellites.

ISRO tweeted saying, “GSAT-17 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-238 from Kourou, French Guiana.”

GSAT-17 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-238 from Kourou, French Guianahttps://t.co/yOrCnpjgON pic.twitter.com/uloiIWJjwj

— ISRO (@isro) June 29, 2017

GSAT-17 was launched in the early morning hours using the  European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.

Department of space said, "After its lift-off at 0245 hrs (2:45 am) IST and a flight lasting about 39 minutes, GSAT-17 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 249 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,920 km, inclined at an angle of 3 degrees to the equator."

Here are key things to know about GSAT-17.

The communication satellite is the latest being inducted into the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system.

Weighing 3477 kg at lift-off, GSAT-17 carries payloads in Normal C, Extended C and S bands to provide various communication services.

Also, the GSAT-17 carries equipment for metereological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT.

After its injection into GTO, ISRO's master control facility (MCF) at Hassan takes control of GSAT-17 and performs the initial orbit raising maneuvers using the liquid apogee motor (LAM) of the satellie, placing it in circular geostationary orbit.

Deployment of appendags such as the solar arrays and antennas as well as three axis stabilisation of the satellite will be performed during the final stages of orbit raising.

It is designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-17 is about 15 years.

GSAT-17 became India’s third communication satellite to successfully reach orbit in the past two months.