In a historic achievement, the eighteenth consecutive flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV C-17 has successfully placed India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-12, in a Sub Geosynchronous Transfer orbit. The mission control centre at Sriharikota broke into a loud applause amid jubilation as the PSLV C-17 rocket blasted off in a easterly direction in perfect predetermined flight trajectory. All flight parameters were normal. About 1225 seconds after lift-off, GSAT-12 separated from the launch vehicle and was injected into the orbit. A few minutes later, a jubilant ISRO Chairman Dr Radhakrishnan declared the launch successful. He said, the launch vehicle injected the satellite into orbit as planned. Dr. Radhakrishnan thanked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for the support lent to ISRO. He also read out a message from the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh congratulating the ISRO for today’s success. Shri Shekar Dutt, Governor of Chhattisgarh and Minister of State in PMO V Narayanaswamy who were present in the mission control centre also congratulated the ISRO team for the success. Mission Director Kunhikrishnan said an excellent orbit has been achieved. GSAT -12 Project Director Anuradha said, GSAT- 12 is in right point in the orbit and all parameters are normal. VSSC Director Dr Veeraraghavan said that the PSLV is a proud symbol of self-reliance of India. The solar panels of the satellite are already deployed. He said the payloads will be tested by the end of this month. This is the nineteenth mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the second flight that employs PSLV-XL configuration. It has 4 stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage also has six solid propellant strap-on motors (PSOM-XL), each carrying 12 tonnes of solid propellants for higher payload capability. The PSLV injected GSAT -12 into a sub- Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a 284km perigee (nearest point to the earth) and an apogee of 21,000km (farthest point from the earth) with an inclination of 17.9deg with respect to the equatorial plane. The GSAT-12 is expected to be placed in the final circular Geostationary Orbit in the next few days. It has an expected missionlife of about eight years. The GSAT-12, India’s latest communication satellite built by ISRO weighs about 1410 kg at lift-off. The satellite has 12 Extended C-band transponders will augment the capacity in the INSAT system for various communication services like Tele-education, Telemedicine and for Village Resource Centres.