ISRO to launch new satellite on December 20

Indian Space Research Organisation has decided to launch its new communication satellite GSAT-5 Prime from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at around 4 pm on December 20.

Indian Space Research Organisation has decided to launch its new communication satellite GSAT-5 Prime from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at around 4 pm on December 20.

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Sources in the Bangalore-headquartered space agency told PTI that the mission readiness review in Sriharikota yesterday, chaired by ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, gave the go-ahead for the mission. "The satellite is slated to be moved to the launch-pad tomorrow", an ISRO official said.

The 2400-kg satellite, equipped with 24 normal C-band and 12 Extended C-band transponders, would be launched by home-made Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06) powered by Russian cryogenic engine. The exclusive C-band GSAT-5P has a designed mission life of 12 years.