India Launches Defense Satellite
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31-08-2013, 12:18 PM
Post: #1
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India Launches Defense Satellite
India Launches Defense Satellite
From http://www.indiawest.com/news/13222-indi...llite.html BANGALORE, India India's first exclusive defense 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. The Indian Navy is to use the multi-band home-built communication spacecraft, expected to be operational by September end. The Rs. 185 crore GSAT-7, the country's maiden dedicated spacecraft for defense applications, was launched during a 50-minute launch window that started at 2 a.m., and it was telecast live by Doordarshan. After a flight of almost 34 minutes, the satellite was injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit 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 Aug. 31-Sept. 4, three orbit-raising operations are due to be performed by the ISRO to place the satellite into geostationary orbit of 36,000 km. above the equator. By Sept. 14, GSAT-7 is 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 the Indian landmass as well as surrounding seas. "It's important from security and surveillance points of view," an ISRO official said. According to a senior space scientist, the Navy suffers limitations from line of sight and ionospheric effects, among others, as far as space-based communications are 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. |
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