GSAT-18 Satellite

GSAT-18 Satellite: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns over the economic viability of GSAT-18 due to the underutilisation of six transponders until 2027.

• About: It is a communication satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on October 5, 2016.
• Launch Vehicle: Heavy-duty Ariane-5 VA-231 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.
• Weight: 3,404 kg at liftoff.
• Mission Life: 15 years (until 2032).
• Orbit: Injected into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Satellite Control: Managed by ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) in Hassan, Karnataka.
• Services: Provides television, telecommunication, VSAT, and digital satellite news gathering.