ISRO`s Satellite GSAT-11 Launched

Question: GSAT-11, heaviest satellite of ISRO is launched from?
(a) Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shriharikota
(b) Spaceport, French Guiana
(c) Baikonur Cosmodrom, Kazakhstan
(d) Mojave Air and Space Port, California
Answer: (b)
Related facts:

  • • GSAT-11 ISROs heaviest (5854 kg) and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite was successfully launched from Spaceport (Kourou Launch Base) in French Guiana. It is nicknamed as ‘Big Bird’.
  • GSAT-11 will boost the broadband connectivity to rural and inaccessible Gram Panchayats in the country coming under the Bharat Net Project, which is part of Digital India Programme.
  • This is next generation satellite with multi-spot beam which will cover the whole territory of India.
  • The 5854-kg GSAT-11 will provide high data rate connectivity to users of Indian mainland and islands through 32 user beams in Ku-band and 8 hub beams in Ka-band.
  • The throughout data rate is 16 Gigabits per second with 15 years Mission Life. The project cost was around 600 crores and was ISROs second bid to launch as first launch failed in May this year.
  • About Ka band /Ku band:
  • The band refers to the radio frequencies which are used to and from the satellite launched.
  • Ka-band: Ka stands for “kurz-above” which stems from the German word “kurz” meaning short. It uses frequency between 26.5-40 gigahertz (GHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Ku-band: It stands for “Kurz untern”. It uses frequency between 12-18 gigahertz (GHZ) approximately. It is the lower part of NATO K band, which was split into 3 bands (Ku, K and Ka). It is used for editing and broadcasting satellite television.

Links:
https://www.isro.gov.in/update/05-dec-2018/india%E2%80%99s-heaviest-communication-satellite-gsat-11-launched-successfully-french
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-heaviest-most-powerful-satellite-gsat-11-the-big-bird-launched-successfully-from-french-guian-1957931
https://www.getconnected.aero/2017/09/lkuka-band-satellites-mean/