Article Posted on : - Sep 25, 2012

BANGALORE (PTI): India's communication satellite GSAT-10 would be launched from the Kourou launch base in French Guyana on September 29.

GSAT-10, weighing 3,400 kg at lift-off, is the heaviest satellite Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has built and would be the 101st mission for the agency.

An ISRO statement said on Monday that the satellite had been integrated with the Ariane-5 launch vehicle along with co-passenger ASTRA-2F, another communication satellite for Luxembourg-based SES.

The lift-off has been scheduled at 2:48 AM (IST) on September 29, it said, adding, the necessary arrangements were being made for live telecast of the launch on Doordarshan.

About 31 minutes after lift-off, GSAT-10 would be injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and later move to Geostationary Orbit (circular 36,000 km above equator).

The satellite, with a 15-year life-span, is expected to be operational by November, 2012.

Carrying 30 communication transponders (12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and 6 Extended C-Band), GSAT-10 would provide vital augmentation to INSAT/GSAT transponder capacity.

Also, it has a Navigation payload, 'GAGAN', that would provide improved accuracy of GPS signals to be used by the Airports Authority of India for Civil Aviation requirements.

This is the second satellite in INSAT/GSAT constellation with GAGAN payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2011.