Ariane launches GSAT-31, Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 07 February 2019

India’s latest communications satellite, GSAT-31 has been launched into space by Arianespace, alongside the Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 (HS-4/SGS-1) satellite.

The dual payload was launched on a heavy lift Ariane 5 launch vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.

Hellas Sat 4 will give Arabsat’s Greek subsidiary Hellas Ku-band regional beam communications for customers including direct-to-home (DTH) operators across Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. SaudiGeoSat-1 will provide advanced Ka-band spot beam communications for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s scientific organisation KACST.

The HS-4/SGS-1 satellite will join Hellas Sat 3, positioned at 39 degrees East.

Meanwhile, India’s GSAT-31 will provide direct-to-home (DTH), telecommunications services, and connectivity to VSATs for digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) from its position at 48 degrees East.

“GSAT-31 has a unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage. The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands” said ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan.

After separation from Ariane-5 upper stage, the two solar arrays of GSAT-31 were automatically deployed and ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT-31.

In the days ahead, scientists will undertake phase-wise orbit-raising manoeuvres to place the Indian Space Agency built satellite in geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system.

It follows its sister satellite GSAT-11 into space after its launch by Arianespace at the end of 2018.