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India‘s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was today successfully launched
by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
The launch was originally scheduled for yesterday, but deferred by 24 hours owing to
unfavourable weather conditions at Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern
coast of South America. GSAT-18, built by the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO), aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by strengthening
ISRO‘s current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites.
With the weather being clear today, the European launcher Ariane-5 VA-231
blasted off at around 2 am (IST) and injected GSAT-18 shortly after orbiting copassenger Sky Muster II satellite for Australian operator NBN (National Broadband
Network) in a flawless flight lasting about 32 minutes.
GSAT-18 that aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by
strengthening ISRO‘s current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites was launched into
a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) about 32 minutes after the lift-off. ―GSAT—18
successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-231 from Kourou, French Guiana,‖ Bengaluruheadquartered ISRO announced after the mission. GSAT-18 is the 20th satellite from
ISRO to be launched by the European space agency and the mission is the 280th for
Arianespace launcher family. ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, who watched the launch
from the mission control centre, left shortly after lift-off, and his message was read out
later by one of his senior colleagues. ―I am really delighted this evening having witnessed
another glorious and flawless lift-off of Ariane-5 VA-231 flight that carried GSAT-18
and Sky Muster II successfully.