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PSLV to put GSAT-12 in orbit today
Shubhadeep Choudhury/TNS

Bangalore, July 14
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C17) carrying the communication satellite GSAT-12 is all set to blast off from the second launch pad at Sriharikota tomorrow to put the satellite into orbit.

The PSLV will, for the first time, be carrying a communications satellite, the 1,410-kg GSAT-12, to place it into an orbit being dubbed as sub geo-stationary transfer orbit (Sub-GTO). The rocket will inject GSAT-12 into a preliminary elliptical orbit of 284 km perigee and 21,000 km apogee.

The mission life of GSAT-12 is eight years. Its 12 Extended C Band transponders will augment the capacity of the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system for various communication services like tele-education, telemedicine and for village resource centres. At present the INSAT system has eight satellites in space providing 175 transponders in S, C, Extended C and Ku-bands.

Previous communication satellites launched by ISRO, which required a much higher altitude than the remote sensing satellites, were either lifted with foreign launchers or Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles having a Russian cryogenic stage.

PSLV-17 is slated to blast off between 1648 and 1708 hrs. Its 53-hour launch countdown commenced at 1148 hours yesterday. During the countdown, filling of liquid propellant in the second stage (PS2) and the fourth stage (PS4) of the launch vehicle is carried out. Mandatory checks on the launch vehicle and satellite including charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks are also being performed. Readiness of various ground systems such as tracking radar systems and communication networks is also checked.