Communication satellite GSAT-10 to be launched September 29

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-10 will be launched from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana by Ariane-5 rocket on September 29, ISRO said in a statement on Monday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said GSAT-10, with 30 communication transponders - automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals- is the heaviest satellite (3,400 kg) built by it.

The rocket will be launched at 0248 hours.

According to ISRO, the GSAT-10 will be injected in geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) by the Ariane rocket around 31 minutes after the lift-off. From there, the satellite will be moved to geostationary orbit (GSO), 36,000 km above the equator.

After the conduct of several tests, GSAT-10 is expected to be operational by November this year and will have a life span of around 15 years.

The GSAT-10 also carries a navigation payload 'GAGAN' to provide improved accuracy of global positioning satellite (GPS) signal for for civil aviation.

This is the second satellite in the INSAT/GSAT constellation with GAGAN payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2011, ISRO said.

The Indian space agency has a total of 168 transponders under its INSAT/GSAT satellite series. It has also taken 94 transponders on lease from foreign satellites.