[Satellite TODAY 06-03-11] The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch its next communication satellite, GSAT-12, in the second week of July from the Sriharikota space center on a PSLV C-17 vehicle, ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan confirmed at a June 2 news conference.

    “GSAT-12 will be moved from Bangalore to Sriharikota on Thursday (June 2) for conducting various pre-launch tests. The assembling of the launch vehicle has also commenced,” Radhakrishnan said. “After the failure of the GSLV rocket in December, ISRO has decided to put all of its focus on developing the cryogenic engines that powered Mark-2 launch vehicles.”

    The GSAT-12 mission follows Arianespace’s successful launch of ISRO’s communication satellite GSAT-8 in May. GSAT-12 is equipped with 12 transponders in an extended C-Band and aims to provide tele-medicine, tele-education and other social service applications to end-users.

    Radhakrishnan said GSAT-8 satellite services would be available for users by the end of June following three weeks of in-orbit transponders tests currently underway.