Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

India Puts Into Orbit Military Satellite For IAF

IANS, 19 Dec, 2018 08:18 PM

    ISRO’s geosynchronous launch vehicle on Wednesday successfully injected into orbit the country’s latest advanced satellite that will substantially enhance the communication systems of the Indian Air Force.


    After a 26-hour countdown, the GSLV-F11, carrying the 2,250 kg GSAT-7A, lifted off at 4.10 pm from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, situated about 110 km from Chennai.


    Around 19 minutes after lift-off, the GSLV-F11 injected GSAT-7A into the intended orbit. It will be placed in its final geostationary orbit using the onboard propulsion systems.


    According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the satellite would take a few days after separation from the launcher to reach its orbital slot.


    ISRO scientists broke into cheers as the satellite was injected into orbit.


    According to the space agency officials, the advanced communication satellite would facilitate exclusive frequency flight communication for the IAF.


    From the Mission Control Centre, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said Wednesday’s “successful and safe” launch was the third one in 35 days and came close on the heels of the “grand success” of two missions in November.


    The GSLV-F11 successfully injected the “advanced” communication GSAT-7A into orbit, an elated Sivan said, describing the mission as “wonderful”.

    This was the heaviest satellite lifted by the GSLV with indigenous cryogenic stage, he said.


    It came with many firsts, including increased propellant loading and other features, the ISRO chief said.


    The “cryogenic stage is burnt to depletion to get a super synchronous transfer orbit to enhance the life of the satellite,” he said.


    The mission life of the GSAT-7A, built by ISRO, is eight years. It will provide communication in Ku-band over the Indian region.


    The advanced communication satellite also came with new technology regarding the antenna to improve the performance, Sivan said.


    Its solar panels have been deployed and orbit raising manoeuvres will be done from Thursday morning from Bengaluru, he said.


    Wednesday’s mission also gave the scientists some anxiety “as the weather god was not very conducive some one week back,” Sivan noted.


    However, the meteorological team here gave correct predictions he said and congratulated the ISRO team members behind the successful launch, the last of this calendar year.


    “This is the last mission of this year. We are going to initiate the new year with a grand mission soon,” he said.


    Sivan said the new year would see ISRO taking up challenging launches, including the Chandrayaan-2 moon mission.


    The GSLV-F11 is the ISRO’s fourth generation launch vehicle with three stages.


    Four liquid strap-ons and a solid rocket motor at the core form the first stage of the launch vehicle, while the second stage is equipped with a high-thrust engine using liquid fuel, ISRO said.


    The Cryogenic Upper Stage forms the third and final stage of the vehicle.


    The seventh launch of 2018 from Sriharikota marks the 69th mission of GSLV-F11 for ISRO.


    On November 14, ISRO’s GSLV-MkIII-D, which is dubbed by the ISRO as the ‘Bahubali’ or “fat boy” of Indian rockets, injected into orbit a 3,423 kg communication satellite GSAT-29, the country’s heaviest to be put into orbit.


    India’s earth observation satellite HysIS and 30 other co-passenger satellites from eight countries were launched onboard ISRO’s trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on November 29.

     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Never Let Occasion Get Better Of You: Gautam Gambhir

    Gambhir was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup team and was the top-scorer in the summit clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.

    Never Let Occasion Get Better Of You: Gautam Gambhir

    Court To Hear Another 1984 Massacre Case Against Sajjan Kumar On Thursday

    A Delhi court will hear Thursday a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who is accused of instigating a mob to kill Sikhs.

    Court To Hear Another 1984 Massacre Case Against Sajjan Kumar On Thursday

    Indian Man, 25, Found Hanging From Ceiling In Sharjah

    The body of a 25-year-old Indian man was found hanging from his room's ceiling in Sharjah's Al Rolla area, the police here said.

    Indian Man, 25, Found Hanging From Ceiling In Sharjah

    Why Did Saraswati Disappear? Mythical River Raises Questions Today

    One of the stories around why the River Saraswati is subterranean goes like this: Brahma gave birth to Saraswati from his forehead. As she leapt out, he was so taken up by her beauty that he "fell in love" and started to pursue her.    

    Why Did Saraswati Disappear? Mythical River Raises Questions Today

    Plea For Pakistan Help To ‘Liberate’ Punjab Exposes SFJ-ISI Nexus: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    Attacking SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief minister said, "The cat is now well and truly out of the bag, and the truth of the deep-rooted connection between the SJF and the Pakistani Army is out in the open." 

    Plea For Pakistan Help To ‘Liberate’ Punjab Exposes SFJ-ISI Nexus: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    Cartoons Don’t Hurt, They Have Healing Power: Narendra Modi

    Cartoons Don’t Hurt, They Have Healing Power: Narendra Modi
    Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested that a case study of the socio-political history of last four to five decades by way of cartoons be taken up by a university

    Cartoons Don’t Hurt, They Have Healing Power: Narendra Modi

    PrevNext