NEW DELHI – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfullylaunched its high power S-band communication satellite GSAT-6A usingGeosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F08) on Thursday.

The launch took place at 4:56 pm from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at SatishDhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The satellite has been placed into the orbit after 17 minutes of thelift-off.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, the real-time systemscheck operations have been completed.

This will be GSLV’s 12th flight and sixth flight with the indigenousCryogenic upper stage.

GSLV-F08, weighing 415.6 tonnes with a height of 49.1 metre comes withnotable improvements like induction of High Thrust Vikas Engine,electromechanical actuation system in place of electro-hydraulic actuationsystem.

The mission life of the spacecraft planned is about 10 years. The satellitewill provide a platform for developing technologies such as demonstrationof 6m S-Band Unfurlable Antenna, handheld ground terminals and networkmanagement techniques. These are useful in satellite-based mobilecommunication applications.