Weighing some 3,400 kg at lift-off, it is Indian Space Research Organisation's 101st space mission.
According to Bangalore-headquartered ISRO, the spacecraft, carrying 30 communication transponders (12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and six Extended C-Band] -- to be launched at 2.48 am and telecast live by Doordarshan -- would provide vital augmentation to INSAT/GSAT transponder capacity.
Also, it has a navigation payload