GSAT-12 communication satellite launched successfully by PSLV - C 17

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday successfully launched its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV- C17) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, 100 km north of Chennai, carrying to space GSAT-12, a communication satellite. This is the 18th successful launch of PSLV. 

     

The majestic launch vehicle lifted off from Sriharikota at 4.40 pm and within a few seconds disappeared into the clouds. Thirty minutes later, it injected the satellite into an orbit with a perigee (closest point to earth) of 284 km and an apogee (farthest point) of 21,000 km. 

"PSLV-C17 launch has been a success," ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan said. "We have achieved an orbit just 8 km away from the one planned. In the next half an hour we will get information on the health of the satellite." 


Images Courtesy:ISRO