ISRO's PSLV-C17 Launch GSAT-12

ISRO's PSLV launch GSAT-12:GSAT-12 "fast-track" satellite with a mass of 1410 kg, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. It is to be injected into space by PSLV-C17 after the launch from Sriharikota spaceport slated between 16.48 hours and 17.08 hours on July 15.

PSLV-C17 carrying India's latest communication satellite GSAT-12 lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.The Geostationary satellite GSAT-12 will meet the country’s growing demand for communication transponders. Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, has used the most powerful version of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle configuration for this mission.

The GSAT-12 has 12 Extended C-band transponders which will augment the capacity in the INSAT system for communication services like Tele-education, Telemedicine and for Village Resource Centres. Seventeen consecutive PSLV missions have been successful so far.DD-National channel telecast the Mission Launch successfully,with its introduction in the desired orbit with clinical timing.

PSLV is being used to loft a communication satellite, the first one being Kalpana-1 in 2002.Bangalore-headquartered ISRO opted for this step as there is a large unfulfilled and pressing demand for communication transponders.Communication satellites are launched on board Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle or ISRO goes in procured launches overseas.

"But we wanted to create (transponder) capacity at the earliest. That's why we used the PSLV for the purpose (of launching a communication satellite), and achieve whatever is possible.. best possible by a PSLV with XL configuration. That's the most powerful configuration," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said.

Radhakrishnan said in the beginning of the 11th plan, ISRO had 211 transponders, and the target then set was to take it to almost 500 by March 2012, which is end of the plan period. But except for 24 transponders added by GSAT-8, which was operationalised recently, ISRO had not been able to enhance these numbers since September 2007.

"During the period, most of our satellites have either completed their normal life or there were premature terminations," he said. "So, this resulted in the 211 becoming 175 now. There is a lot of unfulfilled demand to be met," he added.