Countdown for GSAT-6 launch starts today

August 26, 2015 08:35

The countdown for the Thursday launch of India's latest communication satellite GSAT-6 begins today.

Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the starting of the 29-hr countdown at 1152 hrs.

The launch of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle D6 carrying GSAT-6 is scheduled at 1652 hours on August 27 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

GSAT-6 is the 25th geostationary communication satellite of India built by ISRO and 12th in the GSAT series.

GSAT-6 provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The cuboid shaped GSAT-6 has a lift-off mass of 2117 kg.

Of this, propellants weigh 1132 kg and the dry mass of the satellite is 985 kg, it added.

One of the advanced features of GSAT-6 satellite is its S-Band Unfurlable Antenna of 6 m diameter. This is the largest satellite antenna realised by ISRO. This antenna is utilised for five spot beams over the Indian mainland. The spot beams exploit the frequency reuse scheme to increase frequency spectrum utilisation efficiency, ISRO said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

New skipper Salima ready for European leg of Pro League after SA 'lessons'

Indian women's hockey team's new captain Salima Tete hopes to utilise the "valuable lessons" learnt from the recent home series against South Africa to make a fresh start in the European leg of the FIH Pro League, beginning in Antwerp,...

India's internet economy likely to reach $1 trillion by 2030: Experts

India's internet economy is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2030, primarily due to e-commerce, which is expected to be worth $325 billion and rank third globally, according to industry experts. Last year marked a crucial turning point...

Rain threat looms as RCB-CSK face off in knockout match

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's fairytale resurgent run will be up against the might of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings and the weather gods when the two sides clash in an epic do-or-die match to decide the fourth and final team...

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil Review: Prithviraj, Basil Elevate Bromance

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil is a no-holds-barred, silly comedy that will keep you glued to the screen even when the going gets tough towards the end but the smile on your face will not leave, observes Arjun Menon.

In matters of citizens' liberty, every day counts: SC

Every single day counts in matters concerning the liberty of citizens, the Supreme Court said on Friday while asking the Delhi high court to decide on the regular bail plea of a businessman in a corruption case related to the now...