ISRO to launch its 40th communication satellite GSAT-31

Guwahati: In another feat of the Indian Space Research Organisation, the organization is ready to launch its 40th communication satellite GSAT-31. The satellite will be launched on February 6 from its spaceport in French Guiana.

The new satellite to be launched has a mission life of 15 years and is designed to provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. It is also meant to augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.

Also stated in a statement, the weight of the GSAT-31 satellite is about 2,535 kg and is set to launch onboard the Ariane-5 (VA247) from Kourou in French Guiana. As Arianespace has orbited 22 satellites and signed 24 launch contracts with the Indian space agency, this will be another satellite launch from the spaceport after the launch of Indias APPLE experimental satellite.

The Indian Space Research Organisation stated, “The satellite GSAT-31 is configured on ISRO’s enhanced I-2K Bus, utilizing the maximum bus capabilities of this type. The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series. The satellite provides Indian mainland and island coverage.”

The statement further said that that the new satellite will be used for several functions like supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, DTH television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many other applications. In addition to these, the satellite is designed to provide wide beam coverage through which communication will be done over a large oceanic region comprising large part of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. For this, the satellite will use wide band transponder. ISRO further added that two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted for ground tracking purpose.

During the launch of the GSAT-31, Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 will also be the co-passenger. The Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 is also known as HS- 4/SGS-1 and has two payloads. The satellite is a geostationary condosat for KACST (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Saudi Arabia) and Hellas Sat (Greece Cyprus). The basic functions of the satellite will be to provide telecommunication capabilities to television, Internet, telephone along with also providing secure communications in the Middle East, South Africa and Europe.

Also read: ISRO Launches its Latest Communication Satellite GSAT-29