ISRO to launch heavier satellite on Dec 4
Posted on: 30/Oct/2014 10:59:51 AM
India will launch Dec 4 a heavier and advanced communication satellite (GSAT-16) with 48 transponders on board an European rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, South America.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) satellite centre director S. Shiva Kumar while speaking said, “We are getting ready to launch GSAT-16 Dec 4 on an Ariane-5 rocket of the European space agency Ariane space with 48 transponders, including 24 in C band, 12 in Ku band and 12 in extended C-band."
The 3.1-tonne GSAT-16 will be placed at 55 degrees east over India in the geo-stationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the earth.
The satellite is the 11th among GSAT series and 24th geo-stationary communication satellite with a lifespan of 12 years.
The transponders, which receive and transmit radio signals at high frequency (36MHz), will be used for various communication services, including VSATs (very small aperture terminals), television broadcasting, civil aviation and back-up.
As GSAT-16 will be launched from an overseas spaceport (Kourou) using a procured rocket, the space agency has insured it for Rs.865 crore.
