Bengaluru: The launch of India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was planned for the early hours of Wednesday morning, onboard an Arianespace rocket, from Kourou in French Guiana. However, the launch has been deferred by a day due to heavy cross winds, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
“The launch has been postponed by one day due to heavy cross winds,” a senior ISRO official told PTI late last night.
It would now be launched at 2 am (IST) on October 6.
The Arianespace launch vehicle Ariane-5 VA-231, carrying GSAT-18 along with co-passenger Sky Muster II for the Australian operator National Broadband Network, was scheduled for launch at 2 am (IST) today.
Flight #VA231 with #SkyMuster II and #GSAT-18 is delayed 24 hours due to weather conditions https://t.co/JDYK6wOXYr #Ariane5
— Arianespace (@Arianespace) October 4, 2016
“Due to high altitude winds, decision to postpone #VA231. Tomorrow’s forecast is green. Launch window now set to open on Oct 5 at 20:30 UTC,” Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël tweeted.
Arianespace on its website said that due to “unfavorable weather conditions” currently observed over the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, Arianespace has decided to delay the launch by 24 hours.
The launch has now been scheduled between 2 am and 3:15 am IST on October 6, it said, adding “The launcher, with its Sky Muster II and GSAT-18 satellite payloads, remains in a safe standby condition.”
GSAT-18 is designed to provide continuity of services on operational satellites in C-band, Extended C-band and Ku-bands.
Weighing 3,404 kg at lift-off, the satellite carries 48 communication transponders to provide services in Normal C-band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum. It also carries a Ku-band beacon to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite.
GSAT-18 will be launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
GSAT-18’s co-passenger Sky Muster II, built by Space Systems Loral in Palo Alto, California, is aimed at bridging the digital divide, especially in the rural and isolated regions of Australia.