India successfully launched its Heaviest Satellite GSAT-10

The advanced communication satellite GSAT-10 of India was successfully launched on 28 September 2012 on board Ariane-5 rocket from European spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket placed GSAT-10 in the elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) within 30 minutes and 45 seconds of its launch from the French station just after injecting the European co-passenger ASTRA-2F in the orbit.

IGSAT-10 is the 101st space mission for ISRO is a Rs 750 crore project that includes development of the satellite along with its launch from the European launching station. The 3400 kg lift-off is the heaviest satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organization headquartered at Bangalore. Designed with a life span of 15 years the satellite will expand Indian radio-navigation, direct-to-home broadcasting and telecommunication services to the next level.

Soon after successful injection of the satellite in the space, the command of control was taken by the ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka. K Radhakrishnan, chairman of ISRO declared that the satellite will come into operation from November 2012 for being used by the general community.