GSAT-6A comsat in perfect orbit

Sriharikota: Scripting yet another success story, ISRO on Thursday placed into orbit its latest communication satellite GSAT-6A launched on board its geosynchronous rocket GSLV-F08 from the spaceport here. At the end of the 27-hour countdown, the 49.1-metre Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F08), fitted with indigenously developed cryogenic third stage, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 4.56 pm and soared majestically into the clear sky.

In a text-book launch, about 18 minutes later, the rocket injected GSAT-6A into the geostationary transfer orbit as the ISRO scientists broke into celebrations at the mission control centre. ISRO chief K Sivan said the fifth successive successful launch of the GSLV with indigenous cryogenic stage successfully placed the high power S-band communication satellite in the "designated orbit precisely."

GSAT6A was a complement to GSAT6, which was already in orbit, and these two satellites combined will provide a platform for development of advance technologies, he said. This is the first mission for Sivan, who assumed charge of the space agency in January. The space agency had yet another precise launch.

Right from the core stage ignition to the GSAT-6A satellite separation, the entire launch was completed within the scheduled mission. This is the 12th flight of GSLV rocket and the sixth with indigenous cryogenic upper stage.