GSAT-11 returns to Guiana for December launch

Recalled in April for tests after GSAT-6A was lost in space

An image tweeted by Arianespace’s CEO Stephane Israel after the satellite arrived at the South American port.

GSAT-11, the heaviest Indian communication satellite built to date, for faster Internet connectivity, is back once again at the Guiana Space Centre for an early December launch.

It returns to the South American port for the second time in six months after it was taken back to Bengaluru in April for inspections.

K. Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary, Department of Space, confirmed on Wednesday that the 5,700 kg spacecraft was shipped out of Bengaluru last week and has reached the European launch port.

“GSAT-11 is already in Kourou. It was flown out last week. We are targeting December 4 for its launch,” Dr. Sivan said.

Arianespace, ISRO’s long-time European launch services contractor, has paired GSAT-11 with South Korea’s weather satellite GEO-Kompsat 2A. The two are slated to go to space on the same Ariane 5 launch vehicle, numbered VA246.

Arianespace's CEO Stephane Israel tweeted a pictorial welcome on October 29 local time as the satellite arrived at the port halfway across the globe by a special Russian Antonov cargo flight.

GSAT-11 is built to provide the Indian region superior communication and 12 GBPS connectivity with its multiple spot beams in Ka and Ku bands.