NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch its forty second communication satellite from Sriharikota, on Thursday afternoon, subject to weather conditions.

The launch is scheduled at 3:41 pm when the space agency’s old workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will lift off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The satellite on board is CMS-01, which carries 12 extended C band transponders to strengthen various telecommunication services. The Extended C band uses 3.4 to 3.7 GHz for their downlink and 6.425 to 6.725 GHz for uplinks of the signals and is somewhat less susceptible to rain fade and weather interference.

It will provide coverage to the Indian mainland, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands and is expected to replace the aging GSAT-12 which was launched in 2011. The satellite weighs 1,410 kg and will be injected in the geostationary orbit. It will have a mission life of seven years.

The space agency has chosen the ‘XL’ variant of the 44m high PSLV with six strap ons for its fifty second flight. In the normal configuration, PSLV is a four stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments.

After the mission, ISRO will begin preparing for the launch of new small rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) which will carry EOS-02 (Earth Observation Satellite). It will be followed by the launch of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV) carrying EOS-3, ISRO chairman K Sivan had earlier told the media.

The other Indian satellites that are ready for launch are GISAT and Microsat-2A. The deployment of the GISAT-1 satellite was earlier slated for 5 March, but was postponed due to technical reasons a day before the liftoff.