India’s communication satellite GSAT-18 successfully launched from French Guiana

India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was successfully launched from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. The satellite was launched on board of heavy duty Ariane-5 VA-231 rocket of Arianespace. It was successfully injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSAT-18 was the 20th satellite from ISRO to be launched by the European space agency and overall 280th mission of the Arianespace rocket launcher family. 

Key Features of GSAT-18 

GSAT-18 is indigenously built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It weighs around 3,404 kgs at lift-off. It has a mission life of about 15 years. It carries 48 communication transponders including Ku-band beacon for accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite. These transponders will provide services in Upper Extended C-band, Normal C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum. GSAT-18 will provide services like television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite news gathering. The satellite will play important role in strengthening ISRO’s current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites. It will also enable continuity of vital communication services by replacing ageing satellites of ISRO. Master Control Facility (MCF) of ISRO at Hassan, Karnataka will control the satellite.