GSAT-17 launch to augment India s communication satellites fleet

Chennai June 28 (IANS) India on Thursday will augment its fleet of communication satellites with the launch of GSAT-17 through Ariane 5 rocket said the European Space Agency Arianespace.

The rocket is expected to blast off from the European spaceport in French Guinea with GSAT-17 and Hellas Sat 3-Immarsat S EAN.

The total weight to be lifted by the rocket will be 10 177 kg or just over 10 tonne.

GSAT-17 to be deployed from Ariane 5 s lower passenger position was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to strengthen its current fleet of 17 telecommunications satellites. The spacecraft s separation will occur approximately 41 minutes after lift-off Arianespace said.

According to ISRO GSAT-17 is configured around I-3K extended bus with a lift-off mass of about 3 477 kg.

GSAT-17 carries Payloads in Normal C-band Extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services.

GSAT-17 also carries equipment for metereological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites ISRO said.

--IANS
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