India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carried a 1,060kg (2,300lb) meteorological satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit on 12 September - the first time that India has used its commercial launcher for a geostationary mission. The PSLV has had five successful launches - all ferrying remote sensing and experimental satellites into polar sun-synchronous 900km to 1,100km orbits. The Indian Space Research Organisation has made three changes to tailor the PSLV for geostationary satellites - improving the third-stage solid propellant motor performance, increasing the amount of liquid propellant in the fourth stage, and using a carbon-fibre composite payload fairing to reduce weight.
Source: Flight International
