ISRO-Indian Space Research Organization is using the most powerful configuration of its rocket PSLV to launch a communication satellite GSAT-12 from Sriharikota on July 15th 2011 costs nearly Rs 200 crore.
It's only for the second time ever that a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is being used to loft a communication satellite, the first one being Kalpana-1 in 2002. Bangalore-headquartered ISRO opted for this step as there is a large unfulfilled and pressing demand for communication transponders.
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said: "We wanted to create (transponder) capacity at the earliest. That's why we used the PSLV for the purpose (of launching a communication satellite), and achieve whatever is possible...best possible by a PSLV with XL configuration. That's the most powerful configuration,"
The GSAT-12 is a "fast-track" satellite with a mass of 1410 kg, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. It is slated to be injected into space by PSLV-C17 after the launch from Sriharikota spaceport slated between 16.48 hours and 17.08 hours on July 15. Similar PSLV, with extended strap-ons, was used for India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.
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