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India Launches Hefty Communications Satellite Into Orbit to Cap Busy 2018 (space.com)
India successfully squeezed a seventh launch into the year Wednesday, using an upgraded version of the country's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle to place a massive communications satellite into orbit for the Indian Air Force. From a report: That communications satellite, called the GSAT-7A, weighs nearly 5,000 lbs. (2250 kilograms) and will allow the Indian Air Force to manage all of its space communications itself, rather than paying for satellite services. "This mission, both in the launch vehicle as well as the satellite, there are so many firsts," K. Sivan, chair of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said. [...] Today's was India's last scheduled launch for 2018, although the country is eyeing two launches in January 2019, including of its second moon mission, Chandrayaan 2.
If everything launched into orbit is, ipso facto "junk", then why worry about junk running into other junk?
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Yeah, plus SpaceX does it so much cheaper than everyone else, but somehow India has so much money they choose to do it themselves. It is almost as if launching satellites into orbit in 2018 isn't that big a deal.
The GSLV MK-III costs approximately $60 million, which ISRO intends to further lower to garner the lucrative heavy satellite launch contracts. While a satellite launch on Arianespace's rocket costs about $100 million after subsidies, SpaceX charges approximately $62 million.
Another space launch by India; good on them, but do they seriously still believe they should be classified as a 'developing nation' to receive part of $100B as part of the Paris Climate Agreement? China and your moon mission this month - we're looking at you too!