India’s 40th communication satellite GSAT-31 was successfully put into orbit today by an Ariane 5 rocket belonging to ISRO and Arianespace, on February 06, 2019 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5, Mentioned Indian space agency ISRO and Arianespace.
?? Mission Accomplished! ??
? Thank You for your support ?#GSAT31#Ariane5 (#VA247)#ISROMissions pic.twitter.com/ACL7CUXzth
— ISRO (@isro) February 6, 2019
Read Also, Isro’s PSLV C-44 places military satellite Microsat-R in orbit
Significantly, This satellite is configured ISRO’s enhanced 1-2K bus, utilising the maximum bus capabilities of this type. The satellite, GSAT-31 would augment the ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary orbit.
The ‘2,535-kg’ GSAT-31, satellite derives it’s heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series. This is a versatile satellite with a unique configuration providing flexible frequency segment and flexible coverage. The satellite provides Indian mainland and Island coverage.
?? #ISROMissions ??
Here’s a lift-off video from @Arianespace.#GSAT31#Ariane5 (#VA247) pic.twitter.com/mHvltAXC1Y
— ISRO (@isro) February 6, 2019
Read Also, ISRO to launch world’s lightest & India’s first student-made satellite
Moreover, It will provide continuity services on some of the in-orbit satellites. According to ISRO, GSAT-31, with a mission life of 15 years, will be used for supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), DTH television services, cellular back haul connectivity and many such related applications..
The satellite, provides a wide beam coverage to facilitate communication over large oceanic region comprising large part of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean using a wide band transponder.
Read, India’s heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 launched successfully from French Guiana
However, it opened its 2019 mission activity by successfully orbiting a pair of telecommunications spacecraft – Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 (HS-4/SGS-1) and GSAT-31 with Ariane 5 rocket.
Meanwhile, Arianespace CEO Stephane IsraAl confirmed that the success in post-launch comments from the spaceport’s control room. “For the first Ariane 5 launch of the year, our heavyweight vehicle has once more performed flawlessly,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.
?? #ISROMissions ??
Here’s a lift-off video from @Arianespace.#GSAT31#Ariane5 (#VA247) pic.twitter.com/mHvltAXC1Y
— ISRO (@isro) February 6, 2019
- GSAT-31 is the 40th communication satellite of India;
- Coverage area: Indian mainland and Island;
- Features: Will support VSAT banking application, for disaster management, e-governance, stock markets, among others;
- Two KU-band beacon downlink signals, which is transmitted for ground tracking goals;
- It is configured on ISRO’s enhanced 1-2K bus, utilising the maximum bus capability of this type;
- The satellite also provides wide beam coverage using a wide band transponder;
- Lift of mass: 2,535 kgs
- Mission life: Around 15 years
- Payload: Ku-band transponders;
- Spacecraft power: 4.7 KW..
IsraAl argued that, It was the 23rd ISRO satellite orbited by Arianespace and Ariane-series launchers, tracing the relationship back to India’s APPLE small experimental communications spacecraft, lofted in 1981 by an Ariane 1 version.
Read Also, Glorious achievements of ISRO: ISRO launches its 100th satellite 2018
Further, “Arianespace is honoured Indian Space Agency, ISRO has entrusted Ariane 5 for two launches back-to-back, with the last Ariane 5 of 2018 launching GSAT-11, and today the first one of the year 2019, which orbited GSAT-31!”
Read, India’s heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 launched successfully from French Guiana
Thus, Arianespace kicks off a busy launch schedule in this year (2019), which targets up to ‘12 missions’ from the Spaceport with the heavyweight Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega..
By: CEO, Trilok Singh.
