🇮🇳 #ISROMissions 🇮🇳 Here's a lift-off video from @Arianespace. #GSAT31 #Ariane5 (#VA247) https://t.co/mHvltAXC1Y — ISRO (@isro) 1549413944000

NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)’s 40th communication satellite Gsat-31 was successfully launched from the European spaceport in French Guiana at 2.31 am on Wednesday (India time). Fourty-two minutes after the liftoff, Arianespace’s Ariane-5 rocket put Gsat-31 in its geo-transfer orbit at 3.14 am. The 2,536 kg satellite with a mission life of 15 years will replace dying satellite Insat-4CR.S Pandian, director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), who represented Isro at the French Guiana for the launch, said, “It was a flawless launch. Gsat-31 was a replacement satellite for an Insat satellite. I congratulate Arianespace and also Isro officials who have been camping at the European spaceport since early January to prepare for the launch.” He said “Arianespace will also launch Isro’s another communication satellite Gsat-30 in June-July”. On Isro’s relationship with the European counterpart, the SDSC director said, “Our ties with Arianespace dates back to 1981 when its Ariane Flight L03 launched India’s APPLE experimental satellite. Since then, our space cooperation with our European counterpart has been going stronger.” Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israel said, “This is the 23rd successful launch of an Indian satellite by an Ariane vehicle. Just last year on December 5, Arianespace launched India’s heaviest satellite Gsat-11 weighing 5,854 kg. Hope this friendship grows stronger.”After separation from Ariane-5’s upper stage, the two solar arrays of Gsat-31 were automatically deployed in quick succession and Isro's Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of the satellite and found its health parameters normal. In the days ahead, Isro scientists will undertake phase-wise orbit-raising manoeuvres to place the satellite in geostationary orbit (36,000 km above the equator) using its on-board propulsion system.Before the launch, Isro chief K Sivan told TOI, “Gsat-31 will replace Insat-4CR, whose life is expected to end soon. Though Gsat-31 is not a heavy satellite (2,536kg), we are using the services of Arianespace as it is an emergency launch to replace the dying Insat satellite so that communication services are not affected. Gsat-31 satellite can only be launched with GSLV Mk III. But our MK III rockets are already booked for Chandrayaan-2 and other important missions. We don’t have spare GSLV vehicle for Gsat-31.” Gsat-31, which is configured on Isro’s enhanced I-2K Bus, will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in the geostationary orbit.Sivan said, “GSAT-31 has a unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage. The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands.” He also said that “Gsat-31 will provide DTH television services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, stock-exchange, digital satellite news gathering and e-governance applications. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications”. Gsat-31 will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in geostationary orbit and provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. It derives its heritage from Isro’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.The satellite will also provide wide-beam coverage to facilitate communication over the large oceanic region comprising large parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean using wide-band transponder. Two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted by the satellite for ground-tracking purpose. Gsat-31’s Gregorian reflector antenna will boost satellite signals.The Isro chief told TOI that “Arianespace will also launch Gsat-30 in June. This satellite will replace another dying satellite Insat-4A to ensure continuity of several services. It will provide high-quality television, telecommunication and broadcasting services”.The Indian National Satellite System or Insat is a series of multipurpose geo-stationary satellites that Isro had launched two decades ago to fulfil the country’s requirements in the field of telecommunication, broadcasting, meteorology and search and rescue operations. Commissioned in 1983, Insat satellite system is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia Pacific Region. It is a joint venture of Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, IMD, AIR and Doordarshan. Of the 24 satellites launched in the course of the Insat programme, 11 are still in operation.