Article Posted on : - Dec 11, 2010

Insat 4D (GSAT 5). An ISRO photo

BANGALORE (PTI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to launch its new communication satellite GSAT-5 Prime from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at around 4 pm on December 20.

Sources in the Bangalore-headquartered space agency told PTI that the mission readiness review in Sriharikota on Friday, chaired by ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, gave the go-ahead for the mission.

“The satellite is slated to be moved to the launch-pad tomorrow (Sunday),” an ISRO official said.

The 2400-kg satellite, equipped with 24 normal C-band and 12 Extended C-band transponders, would be launched by home-made Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06) powered by Russian cryogenic engine.

The exclusive C-band GSAT-5P has a designed mission life of 12 years.