GSAT-18 launch in early hours of October 5

The communication satellite will be launched from French Guiana

India's latest high power communication satellite GSAT-18 is scheduled to be launched from Kourou, French Guiana between Indian Standard Time 2 a.m. and 3.15 a.m. on October 5, 2016. The satellite, weighing 3,404 kg at lift-off, will be launched in Ariane-5 rocket, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

GSAT-18 will have 48 communication transponders to provide services of various frequency spectrum and Ku-band beacon to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite.

The satellite will be induced to the Indian National Satellite (Insat)/GSAT system. The Insat system was established in 1983, as one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia Pacific Region.

After its injection into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), Isro's Master Control Facility at Hassan, in Karnataka, will take control of the GSAT-18 satellite and will perform the initial orbit raising maneuvers using the Liquid Apogee Motor, placing it in circular Geostationary Orbit.

The mission life of GSAT-18 is expected to be 15 years.

For Arianespace, this would be the eight mission in 2016, and the the fifth Ariane 5 launch from French Guiana. The space vehicle will carry two satellites, GSAT-18 and Sky Muster II, for Australian operator National Broadband Nework. GSAT-18 will be the 543rd saellite to be launched by Arianespace. This will be the 280th mission performed by the Arianespace launcher family, added an announcement from Arianespace.