India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 launched
Q. What is the name of India’s latest communication satellite launched successfully on Oct 6, 2016?- Published on 07 Oct 16a. GSAT-19
b. GSAT-18
c. GSAT-17
d. GSAT-16
ANSWER: GSAT-18
India has launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-18 on Oct 6th, 2016. The satellite was successfully launched by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
- Launch was deferred by 24 hour owing to unfavourable wind conditions
- Kourou is a French territory located in NE coast of South America
- GSAT-18 was built by ISRO and aims to strengthen its current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites.
- European rocket launcher Ariane-5 VA-231 operated at 2 am IST, injecting the GSAT-18 after orbiting the co-passenger Sky Muster II satellite for Australian National Broadband Network
- GSAT-18 will work towards providing telecommunication services for the country by strengthening the current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
- GSAT is the 20th ISRO satellite launched by ESA
- It is the 280th for the Arianespace launcher family
- ISRO has been dependant on Ariane-5 rocket for carrying heavier satellites
- It has developed GSLV Mk III for this purpose.
- Weighing 3404 kg at lift off, GSAT-18 has carried 48 communication transponders to provide services in Normal C band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-Bands of the frequency spectrum
