<p>India's latest communication satellite GSAT-16 will be launched early tomorrow from Kourou in French Guiana after it was deferred due to inclement weather at the launch base, ISRO said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Launch is rescheduled on early morning of Dec 06, at 02:09 hrs (IST) from French Guiana," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on its website.<br /><br />ISRO had last night announced that due to inclement weather, the launch of GSAT-16 onboard Ariane 5 VA221 which was scheduled for 02.08 am today (IST) had been deferred to a later date.<br /><br />GSAT-16 is designed to augment the national space capacity in communication services.<br /><br />In the dual satellite mission, along with GSAT-16, DIRECTV-14, which was built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV to provide direct-to-home television broadcasts across the US, is also being launched.<br /><br />With lift-off mass of 3,181 kg, GSAT-16 is configured to carry a total of 48 communication transponders, the largest number of transponders carried by a communication satellite developed by the ISRO so far.<br /><br />Facing capacity crunch, ISRO has leased 95 transponders on foreign satellites mainly for the use of private TV broadcasters.<br /><br />The satellite will boost public and private TV and radio services, large-scale Internet and telephone operations.<br /><br />GSAT-16, which would replace INSAT-3E, decommissioned prematurely in April, has a designated on orbit operational life of 12 years. It will be the 18th satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ISRO.</p>
<p>India's latest communication satellite GSAT-16 will be launched early tomorrow from Kourou in French Guiana after it was deferred due to inclement weather at the launch base, ISRO said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Launch is rescheduled on early morning of Dec 06, at 02:09 hrs (IST) from French Guiana," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on its website.<br /><br />ISRO had last night announced that due to inclement weather, the launch of GSAT-16 onboard Ariane 5 VA221 which was scheduled for 02.08 am today (IST) had been deferred to a later date.<br /><br />GSAT-16 is designed to augment the national space capacity in communication services.<br /><br />In the dual satellite mission, along with GSAT-16, DIRECTV-14, which was built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV to provide direct-to-home television broadcasts across the US, is also being launched.<br /><br />With lift-off mass of 3,181 kg, GSAT-16 is configured to carry a total of 48 communication transponders, the largest number of transponders carried by a communication satellite developed by the ISRO so far.<br /><br />Facing capacity crunch, ISRO has leased 95 transponders on foreign satellites mainly for the use of private TV broadcasters.<br /><br />The satellite will boost public and private TV and radio services, large-scale Internet and telephone operations.<br /><br />GSAT-16, which would replace INSAT-3E, decommissioned prematurely in April, has a designated on orbit operational life of 12 years. It will be the 18th satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ISRO.</p>