NEW DELHI, March 29 ( Xinhua) -- India on Thursday successfully launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-6A into space, officials said.

"State-owned Indian Space Research Organisation's indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off with GSAT-6A from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota at 4:56 p.m. (local time)," a space official said.

And within 20 minutes, the satellite was successfully placed into its orbit, he added.

GSAT-6A is a powerful S-band communications satellite and second in the so-called series, the first being the GSAT-6. It will help provide seamless mobile communication for India.

The satellite will also provide a platform for developing technologies such as the six-metre S-Band Unfurlable Antenna and hand-held ground terminals.

The space agency said that the mission's life span will be around a decade.

Indian Space Research Organisation in January successfully launched as many as 31 satellites in a single mission from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.