Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is using the most powerful configuration of its rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to launch a communication satellite from Sriharikota on July 15 as it braces for the nearly Rs 200 crore mission.
It's only for the second time ever that a PSLV is being used to loft a communication satellite, the first one being Kalpana-1 in 2002.
Bangalore-headquartered Isro opted for this step as there is a large unfulfilled and pressing demand for communication transponders.
Communication satellites are launched on board GSLV or Isro goes in procured launches overseas.
"But we wanted to create (transponder) capacity at the earliest. That's why we used the PSLV for the purpose (of launching a communication satellite), and achieve whatever is possible by a PSLV with XL configuration. That's the most powerful configuration," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI here.
The GSAT-12 "fast-track" satellite with a mass of 1410 kg, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. It is slated to be injected into space by PSLV-C17 after the launch from Sriharikota spaceport slated between 1648 hours and 1708 hours on July 15.
Similar PSLV, with extended strap-ons, was used for India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.
