The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its latest communication satellite.

Named as CMS-01, the satellite was launched onboard PSLV-C50 from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on 17 December.

The satellite was released into its intended orbit after 20min 12s from lift-off.

ISRO in a statement said: “After injection, the solar panels of CMS-01 were automatically deployed and ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan has assumed the control of the satellite.”

Over the next few days, orbit-raising manoeuvres will be carried out to place the satellite into geostationary orbit at its designated location.

Marking India’s 42nd communication satellite, the CMS-01 is designed to provide services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum to various locations, including Indian mainland, and Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

It will be the first in a new series of communication satellites the country will be launching after the GSAT and INSAT series.

The satellite was initially scheduled for launch on 8 December and then pushed to 14 December. It was aborted due to bad weather.

This mission marks the 52nd flight for PSLV and the 77th launch mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

In relation to the upcoming PSLV-C51 mission, ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan said: “The mission will be the fruition of the space reforms recently introduced in the country.”

It will carry three satellites built by private entities.

Last month, ISRO launched the EOS-01 Earth observation satellite and nine other international satellites onboard the PSLV-C49 rocket.