India’s Advanced Communication Satellite GSAT-7 Launched Successfully
India’s advanced multi-band communication satellite, GSAT-7, has
successfully been launched at 0200 hrs IST today (August 30, 2013) by the
Ariane-5 launch vehicle of Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana.
Ariane-5 precisely placed GSAT-7 into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbit (GTO) after a flight of 34 minutes 25 seconds duration.
As planned, ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka
started acquiring the signals five minutes prior to the separation of
GSAT-7 from Ariane-5 launch vehicle. The solar panels of the satellite
have been deployed and they are generating power. Initial checks have
indicated normal health of the satellite.
The present orbit of the satellite will be raised to Geostationary Orbit
of about 36,000 km altitude through three orbit raising manoeuvres by
firing of GSAT-7’s Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM). Preparations are underway
for the first firing, planned in the early hours of August 31, 2013. The
satellite will be placed in the Geostationary Orbit by September 04, 2013.
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