GSAT-17, India’s latest communication satellite, was on Thursday successfully launched into space from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, PTI reported. The satellite was propelled using the European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle.

The GSAT-17 became India’s third communication satellite to successfully reach orbit in the past two months. The 3,477-kg satellite will help provide various communication services to the country. It also carried equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite-based search-and-rescue services.

“GSAT-17 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-238 from Kourou, French Guiana,” the Indian Space Research Organisation announced after the mission. Preliminary health checks of the satellite revealed that it was functioning as expected, reported Business Standard.

Announcing the successful launch of the satellite, Arianespace chief executive officer Stephane Israel tweeted: “Confirmed: GSAT-17 has successfully separated from its #Ariane5 launcher #VA238 @ISRO “ Thanking Arianespace, Director Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Dr K. Sivan who watched the launch from the mission control centre called it a “text book mission”.

The GSAT-17 will strengthen Isro’s current fleet of 17 telecommunications satellites launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, which is used to reach a Geostationary Orbit using high thrust chemical engines.