NEW DELHI - India Monday successfully raised the orbit of its home-made communication satellite GSAT-14, a day after launching it by its high-powered GSLV-D5 rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The state-owned Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said the first orbit maneuver operation of GSAT-14 was successfully completed by firing the apogee motor for 52 minutes. The realized orbit is 8,966 km perigee (nearest point from Earth) and 35,744 km apogee (farthest point from Earth), it said.

The cuboid-shaped India's 23rd geostationary satellite, which has a lifespan of nearly 12 years, was launched into space with six extended C-band and Ku-band transponders and two Ka-band becons. It is to be used for tele-medicine and tele-education services.

India has joined an elite group of nations by successfully launching the satellite.