Isro all set to launch GSAT-17 from French Guiana tomorrow

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to place its 17th communication satellite, GSAT-17, in orbit - the third satellite launch by ISRO in less than a month.

GSAT-17 is scheduled to be launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, in French Guiana, onboard an Ariane-5 launch vehicle, at around 2:29 hours IST tomorrow (29 June), as per the Isro.

''GSAT-17 is a communication satellite configured around I-3K extended bus with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg. GSAT-17 carries payloads in Normal C-band, Extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services. GSAT-17 also carries equipment for metereological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites,'' says an Isro website release.

The satellite is fitted with twin solar panels, capable of producing a total of 6,500 watts of DC power, tapering to 5,200 watts at the end. The designed in-operational life of GSAT-17 is 15 years.

After its placement in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), Isro's Master Control Facility (MCF), at Hassan will take control of GSAT-17 and will perform the initial orbit raising maneuvers using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the communication satellite.

After an orbit testing, the GSAT-17 would become operational.

Earlier this month, Isro launched an advanced communication satellite GSAT-19 using its most powerful rocket 'GSLV Mk III-D1' from Sriharikota, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The satellite had a lift-off weight of 3,136 kg.

Again, on 20 June, Isro launched its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) its Cartosat-2 series satellite and 30 smaller satellites.

On February 15 this year, the space agency had launched a record of 104 satellites in a single flight.