Richest space asset for India in space now

India’s heaviest satellite GSAT-11 successfully launched from French Guiana

Bengaluru, Dec 5 (UNI) India’s heaviest, largest and most powerful satellite GSAT-11 was successfully launched by an Arianespace rocket from the French Guiana early Wednesday morning.

Blasting off from the Ariane Launch Complex in Kourou at 0207 hrs Indian time, the Ariane-5 vehicle injected the GSAT-11 into the orbit in a flawless flight lasting about 33 minutes.

The satellite will play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country and also be a platform to demonstrate new generation applications.

GSAT-11 is a large planned Indian geostationary communications satellite. The 5854 kg satellite will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 74 degrees east longitude over the equator for its 15-year mission. GSAT 11, India’s 22nd satellite, is based on the new I-6K Bus and carry 40 transponders in the Ku-band and Ka-band frequencies, which are capable of providing up to 14 Gbit/s throughput.

Soon after the launch, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, “GSAT-11 is going to be the richest space asset for India and it will provide something like 16 Gbps data link services to the country.

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“The satellite has 38 spot beams as well as eight sub beams, which will cover the entire country, including the remote places.