Sriharikota: India's latest communication satellite, GSAT-6A, was today launched onboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F08 from the spaceport here and successfully placed in the designated orbit. The mission, designated F08, is yet another success for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The rocket was fit with an indigenously developed cryogenic engine for the third stage, and injected the satellite into orbit about 18 minutes after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. GSAT-6A is set to provide a thrust to mobile communication through multi-beam coverage facility, according to ISRO. GSAT-6A is similar to GSAT-6, and is a high power S-band communication satellite built on the I-2K satellite bus with a mission life of about 10 years.

The organisation's chairman, K. Sivan, described the mission as a success and congratulated the scientists behind the mission. He said the communication satellite had been successfully placed in its designated orbit. This marks the 12th flight of the GSLV and sixth with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, a.k.a the Mk II configuration.

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