Isro says GSAT-11, a communication satellite, will contribute to bridging India's rural-urban digital divide.
GSAT-11 in a clean room. (Photo: Isro)
HIGHLIGHTS
- GSAT-11 launched from spaceport in French Guiana
- PM hails major milestone for India's space programme
- GSAT-11 is most powerful satellite ever built by India: Isro chief
When it was still on Earth, GSAT-11 dwarfed anyone who stood nearby. "A really massive fellow", is how Isro put it. Early this morning above French Guiana, this 5854-kg satellite's launch vehicle rode a blaze of light and exhaust into space, and sent it into orbit within minutes.
Isro chairman K Sivan says GSAT-11 is the largest, heaviest and most powerful satellite ever built by India. What's its job?
The space agency says it will give users high data rate connectivity, both on the Indian mainland and on the islands, through user and hub beams in two frequency bands: Ku and Ka.
The first uses frequencies ranging between 12 and 18 GHz (gigahertz), and the second, between 26 and 40 GHz, the European Space Agency says.
The Ka band, used in both communication satellites and military aircraft radars, is being introduced in India for the first time through GSAT-11.
"GSAT-11 will boost the broadband connectivity to rural and inaccessible gram panchayats in the country coming under the Bharat Net Project, which is part of the Digital India programme," Sivan said.
India is proud of our scientists, who keep innovating and setting high standards of scale, achievements and succcess. Their remarkable work inspires every Indian. @isro
This, he said, is the third in a series of four satellites aimed at achieving the government's ambitious target: Providing India with high data connectivity of 100 GBPS under the Digital India Mission.
With a mission life of 15 years, GSAT-11 "will enable broadband, telecommunication and multimedia solutions to households, businesses and public organisations", and "next generation applications such as in-flight connectivity," Isro said in a video presentation.
GSAT-11 being loaded into a thermovac chamber. (Photo: Isro)
GSAT-11's launch vehicle, Ariane-5, blasted off at 2.07 am IST from a French territory in South America. After the satellite separated, Isro's Master Control Facility in Hassan, Karnataka, took command. It found GSAT-11's health parametres to be normal.
"India and France are real partners in space!" said Alexandre Ziegler, France's ambassador to India.
Proud 5,8 tons and 28 meters of total span in space for Digital India! Hearty congrats for the launch of amazing GSAT 11, the largest, heaviest and most powerful Indian satellite ever. Launched fromon the #Ariane 5 rocket. India and France are real partners in space!
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the launch "a major milestone for our space programme, which will transform the lives of crores of Indians by connecting remote areas".
Inputs from PTI
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