ISRO's GSAT-18 satellite launch postponed by 24 hours due to bad weather

Photo credit: ISRO/Twitter

Chennai: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday postponed the launch of India's communication satellite GSAT-18 from Kourou, French Guiana using an Arianespace launch vehicle Ariane-5 VA-231, by a day due to unfavourable weather conditions.

The launch of the Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou (French Guiana) was scheduled to take place between 2 a.m. and 3.15 a.m. (India Time) on Wednesday. However, the rocket launch has been delayed by 24 hours owing to heavy cross winds.

The rocket is now expected to liftoff between 2 a.m. and 3.15 a.m. from Kourou (French Guiana) on Thursday October 6.

According to ISRO, GSAT-18 is the country's latest communication satellite with 48 transponders that receive and transmit communication signals.

The 3,404 kg satellite will provide services in normal C-band, upper extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum.

The satellite carries Ku-band beacon as well to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite.

For Arianespace, this will be its eighth launch mission this year.

Apart from the Indian communication satellite, the Ariane 5 rocket will be carrying Australian Sky Muster II satellite.

According to Arianespace, GSAT-18 will be the 20th satellite from ISRO to be launched by it.

Since the launch of the Apple experimental satellite on Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 19 Indian satellites, winning 86 per cent of the geostationary orbit launch contracts that the country has opened to non-Indian launch systems.

Built by ISRO, GSAT 18 will provide telecommunications services for India, strengthening ISRO's current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites.

This Ariane 5 flight will be the 280th mission by the Arianespace launcher family.

ISRO said GSAT-18 will be launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

After its injection into GTO, ISRO's Master Control Facility at Hassan will take control of the satellite and perform the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor of the satellite, placing it in circular Geostationary Orbit.

After this, the deployment of appendages such as the solar panels and antennas as well as three axis stabilisation of the satellite will be performed.

GSAT-18 will be positioned at 74 deg East longitude and co-located with other operational satellites.

The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-18 is about 15 years.

(With Agencies input)