ISRO successfully launches GSAT-12

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-12 onboard a boosted variant of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C17), from the spaceport in Sriharikota on Friday.

With the countdown moving in a clockwork manner, the PSLV-C17 lifted off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 4.48 pm at the end of the 53-hour countdown and successfully placed the 1,410 kg communications satellite, the GSAT-12 into orbit about 20 minutes later.

''I am extremely happy to state that the PSVL-C17 GSAT-12 mission is successful. The launch vehicle injected the satellite very precisely into the intended orbit,'' said ISRO chairman, K Radhakrishnan.

This was the workhorse PSLV's 18th successful mission in a row.

GSAT-12 was injected into an elliptical Transfer Orbit of 284 km perigee (closest point to Earth) and 21,000 km apogee (farthest point to Earth).

Subsequently, the onboard Liquid Apogee Motor will be fired to place the GSAT-12 into a circular orbit. This is a critical manoeuvre and will place the satellite in a geo-stationary orbit.