Arianespace launches two satellites for India and South Korea

Arianespace has launched two satellites for space agencies in India and South Korea from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana.

The launch was conducted by Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket.

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-11 and Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s (KARI) GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellites were placed into their planned orbits.

Around 30 minutes after the launch, Ariane 5 first deployed the GSAT-11 satellite from its upper stage into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit and then released the GEO-KOMPSAT-2A probe from its lower payload position.

Following separation, ISRO’s master control facility at Hassan, Karnataka, had assumed control of GSAT-11, which is India’s heaviest communication satellite.

Designed to operate for more than 15 years, the 5,854kg GSAT-11 is capable of offering high-data connectivity to users across mainland India and nearby islands via 32 Ku-band user beams and eight Ka-band hub beams.

Over the next few days, the satellite will perform orbit-raising manoeuvrings in phases using its onboard propulsion systems to position itself 36,000km above the Equator.

ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan said: “The GSAT-11 will boost the broadband connectivity to rural and inaccessible Gram Panchayats in the country coming under the Bharat Net Project, which is part of Digital India Programme.”

The Bharat Net Project intends to enhance India’s public welfare schemes such as e-banking, e-health and e-governance.

The GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite was developed by KARI at its facility in Daejeon, South Korea.

Built as part of a governmental programme, the 3,507.2kg satellite is designed to provide meteorological and space weather monitoring data from an orbital position of 128.2° East.