India puts communication satellite into space

SRIHARIKOTA, India, July 16 Xinhua 

Indian Space Research Organization's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C17 (PSLV) carrying a new communication satellite was successfully launched on Friday from Sriharikota, south India, said ISRO officials.

An extra large PSLV rocket, known as PSLV-XL, was used to launch the GSAT-12 communication satellite into space.

GSAT-12 will link doctors and teachers from the cities with rural India and can help in a medical diagnosis over a satellite link.

ISRO is currently battling a severe shortage in communication satellites, which are also used to provide telecom and television services across the country.

GSAT-12 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota following a 53-hour countdown. GSAT-12, weighing 1,410 kg and equipped with 12 Extended-C band transponders, will augment communication capabilities in telemedicine, tele-education and telephone and other services.

In PSLV-XL version, six extended solid strap-on motors carrying 12 tons of solid propellant in total are being used as against nine tonnes in a standard PSLV variant.