India's space agency locates lost communication satellite

April 19

(Xinhua) -- India's state-owned space agency has claimed to have located its latest home-made communication satellite GSAT-6A that was lost after its launch last month.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the satellite on March 29 through its indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.

In an interview with the Hindustan Times newspaper published Thursday, ISRO chief K. Sivan reiterated that the launch was successful.

"(But) in a case like the GSAT-6A, the launch vehicle will place satellite into an orbit that is convenient for the vehicle, then satellite will use its systems to take it further," he said.

"For GSAT-6A, this problem happened during orbit raising manoeuvres when we lost communication, but we've located the satellite, we are hoping to re-establish the communication link," he added.

GSAT-6A is a S-band communications satellite and second in the so-called series as well as the first being the GSAT-6. It will help provide seamless mobile communication for India.

The satellite will also provide a platform for developing technologies such as the six-metre S-Band Unfurlable Antenna and hand-held ground terminals.

The space agency estimates the mission's life span to be around a decade.