Indigenously made communications satellite GSAT-15 was launched successfully on 11 November 2015 by the European Ariane 5 VA-227 launch vehicle at 3:04 am.
The launch took place from Kourou in French Guyana in South America.
The Ariane-5 rocket was hired at a cost of approximately 581 crores rupees.
The 3164 kilogram GSAT-15 carries communication transponders in Ku-band as well as a GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands. An Arabsat communications satellite also accompanied the GSAT-15 on the same launch.
The GSAT-15 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) after its co-passenger Arabsat-6B (BADR-7) was injected into space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT-15 immediately after its separation from the launch vehicle.
After the completion of orbit raising operations, the two solar arrays and both the antenna reflectors of GSAT-15 will be deployed. Afterwards, the satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration.
GSAT-15 will be positioned at 93.5 degrees East longitude in the geostationary orbit along with the operational INSAT-3A and INSAT-4B satellites. After the successful completion of all the in-orbit tests, GSAT-15 will be ready for operational use.
GSAT-15 is the 10th communication satellite and has an estimated lifespan of 12 years. It will augment telecommunication, Direct-To-Home and radio navigation services.
Now get latest Current Affairs on mobile, Download # 1 Current Affairs App
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation