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India's first exclusive defence satellite GSAT-7
was successfully launched by European space
consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket from
Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Friday,
giving a major push to the country's maritime
security.
Indian Navy would be the user of the multi-
band home-built communication spacecraft,
expected to be operational by September end.
ISRO looking for more participation of
private players in Joint Ventures
The Rs 185-crore GSAT-7, the country's maiden
dedicated spacecraft for Defence applications,
was launched during a 50-minute launch
window which started at 2 am, and it was
telecast live by Doordarshan.
After a flight of almost 34 minutes, the
satellite was injected into a Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 249 km perigee
(nearest point to earth), 35,929 km apogee
(farthest point to earth) and an inclination of
3.5 degree with respect to the equator.
During August 31-September 4, three orbit-
raising operations will be performed by Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to place
the satellite into geostationary orbit of 36,000
km above the equator.
By September 14, GSAT-7 is planned to be
positioned in its orbital slot of 74 deg East
longitude and subsequently the satellite's
communication transponders will be switched
on.
The frequency bands of GSAT-7 will help
space-based marine communications. It has
coverage over India landmass as well as
surrounding seas.
"It's important from security and surveillance
points of view", an ISRO official said.
State-of-the-art satellite
According to a senior space scientist, so far the
Navy had limitation from line of sight and
ionospheric effects, among others, as far as
space-based communications were concerned.
It was thought essential to have an integrated
platform for the Navy's exclusive use.
Earlier, satellite communication in ships was
through Inmarsat, a major provider of global
mobile satellite communications services.
The state-of-the-art satellite carrying payloads
operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a
lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISRO's
2500 kg satellite bus with some new
technological elements, including the antennae.
According to ISRO, GSAT-7 is an advanced
communication satellite to provide wide range
of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to
high bit rate data communication. Its payload
is designed to provide communication
capabilities to users over a wide oceanic region
including the Indian land-mass.
The launch cost for ISRO is around Rs 470
crore, including insurance.
ISRO cannot launch heavy satellites like
GSAT-7 as its home-grown GSLV rocket, with
indigenous cryogenic stage, is still at works
and needs two successful flights before it is
declared operational.
In addition to GSAT-7, the Ariane 5 orbited
another spacecraft EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail.
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 - which rode in the
top position of the Ariane 5 payload "stack" -
separated first, some 27 minutes after liftoff.
At approximately 34 minutes into the flight,
the lower passenger - GSAT-7 - was deployed,
completing the mission.
Indian Ambassador to France, Arun Singh and
Director of Bangalore-based ISRO Satellite
Centre, S K Shivakumar, were among those
who witnessed the launch.
Singh said the launch event is also a reflection
of strategic partnership between India and
France.
Shivakumar said GSAT-7 would be operational
by next month-end.
was successfully launched by European space
consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket from
Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Friday,
giving a major push to the country's maritime
security.
Indian Navy would be the user of the multi-
band home-built communication spacecraft,
expected to be operational by September end.
ISRO looking for more participation of
private players in Joint Ventures
The Rs 185-crore GSAT-7, the country's maiden
dedicated spacecraft for Defence applications,
was launched during a 50-minute launch
window which started at 2 am, and it was
telecast live by Doordarshan.
After a flight of almost 34 minutes, the
satellite was injected into a Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 249 km perigee
(nearest point to earth), 35,929 km apogee
(farthest point to earth) and an inclination of
3.5 degree with respect to the equator.
During August 31-September 4, three orbit-
raising operations will be performed by Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to place
the satellite into geostationary orbit of 36,000
km above the equator.
By September 14, GSAT-7 is planned to be
positioned in its orbital slot of 74 deg East
longitude and subsequently the satellite's
communication transponders will be switched
on.
The frequency bands of GSAT-7 will help
space-based marine communications. It has
coverage over India landmass as well as
surrounding seas.
"It's important from security and surveillance
points of view", an ISRO official said.
State-of-the-art satellite
According to a senior space scientist, so far the
Navy had limitation from line of sight and
ionospheric effects, among others, as far as
space-based communications were concerned.
It was thought essential to have an integrated
platform for the Navy's exclusive use.
Earlier, satellite communication in ships was
through Inmarsat, a major provider of global
mobile satellite communications services.
The state-of-the-art satellite carrying payloads
operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a
lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISRO's
2500 kg satellite bus with some new
technological elements, including the antennae.
According to ISRO, GSAT-7 is an advanced
communication satellite to provide wide range
of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to
high bit rate data communication. Its payload
is designed to provide communication
capabilities to users over a wide oceanic region
including the Indian land-mass.
The launch cost for ISRO is around Rs 470
crore, including insurance.
ISRO cannot launch heavy satellites like
GSAT-7 as its home-grown GSLV rocket, with
indigenous cryogenic stage, is still at works
and needs two successful flights before it is
declared operational.
In addition to GSAT-7, the Ariane 5 orbited
another spacecraft EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail.
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 - which rode in the
top position of the Ariane 5 payload "stack" -
separated first, some 27 minutes after liftoff.
At approximately 34 minutes into the flight,
the lower passenger - GSAT-7 - was deployed,
completing the mission.
Indian Ambassador to France, Arun Singh and
Director of Bangalore-based ISRO Satellite
Centre, S K Shivakumar, were among those
who witnessed the launch.
Singh said the launch event is also a reflection
of strategic partnership between India and
France.
Shivakumar said GSAT-7 would be operational
by next month-end.
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