In the early hours of 6th February 2019, India has successfully launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-31 by Arianespace’s rocket which is European launch services provider from French Guiana.
The Ariane-5 vehicle introduced GSAT-31 into the orbit and had an impeccable flight that lasted for about 42 minutes.
GSAT-31 being the 40th communication satellite of India is a “high power” communication satellite with Ku-band which is going to be an alternative for the satellites that are going to expire soon.
Along with GSAT-31, the Ariane-5 vehicle has also carried Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 with it.
GSAT-31 got divided from the Ariane-5 in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee of 250 km and an apogee of 35,850 km which has inclined at an angle of 3.0 degree to the equator.
Weighing around 2,536 kg the satellite acquires its inheritance from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series that are going to provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands.
This satellite has a mission life of around 15 years which will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH-television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications.
Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Director S. Pandian congratulated the scientists who worked on this successful mission.
