Photo credit: AIR/Twitter

India’s latest communication satellite, the GSAT-15, was launched by by the European Ariane 5 VA-227 launch vehicle early on Wednesday, the Press Trust of India reported. The GSAT-15, which will provide telecommunications services, navigation aid and emergency services, was injected into space at 3.40 am and weighs 3,146 kg. The satellite made contact with the control facility in Hassan, Karnataka and is said to be “hale and hearty”.

The GSAT-15 will strengthen the satellite navigation infrastructure, representatives from the Indian Space Research Organisation said, and boost communication in the country, especially serving the civil aviation sector. The ISRO will also launch two more communication satellites, the GSAT-17 and the GSAT-18 next year. The launch was telecast on Doordarshan.