Rocket places India's 42nd communications satellite CMS-01 into orbit

Feat achieved 20 minutes after lift-off; satellite will provide services in extended C-band spectrum

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)'s PSLV-C50 lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport near Chennai, and successfully placed India's 42nd communications satellite CMS-01 (formerly GSAT-12R) into orbit 20 minutes after lift-off.

The rocket lifted at 3:41 p.m. from the second launch pad at the rocket port in Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh. After about 20 minutes into its flight, it ejected CMS-01 into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and from there, the satellite will be taken up and positioned in the geosynchronous stationary orbit.

The 44-metre-high four-staged engine, PSLV-C50, is the 22nd flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with six strap-on motors