GSAT-7, India’s first dedicated maritime communications satellite set for launch tomorrow
29 Aug 2013
GSAT-7, India's first dedicated satellite for maritime communications, would be launched tomorrow by Arianespace, the European space consortium, from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.
This is India's 71st satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) since 1975.
However, the launch is far from a first of the kind effort of this magnitude. India has, over the years taken up various projects of the kind on its own successfully, with the view to cut dependence on foreign help and GSAT-7 is only the latest in that direction.
Among the various satellite attempts India had undertaken (since 1975) are: Aryabhata, India's very first satellite which took its name from the great Indian mathematician of the same name. The satellite was launched from Kapustin Yar, Russia on 19 April 1975, to provide technological experience to Indian scientists in the field of the satellite system. However, due to a power failure, the satellite could only orbit the earth for 96 minutes before all signals were lost.
Bhaskara-I was launched on 7 June 1979 from Kapustin Yar, Russia to collect telemetry data as also data on oceanography and hydrology.
GSAT-7 is India's first dedicated spacecraft for defence applications.
PTI quoted an official of Bangalore-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as saying that the satellite had frequency bands that would help marine communications.
It had coverage over the Indian landmass as also surrounding seas, he said, adding, it was important from security and surveillance points of view.
PTI further quoted a senior space scientist in the know as saying that the Navy had so far had limitation from line of sight and ionospheric effects etc and it was thought essential to have an integrated platform for the Navy's exclusive use. He added, earlier, satellite communication in ships was through Inmarsat (a major provider of global mobile satellite communications services). He said India would now have its own set up.
The Rs185 crore state-of-the-art satellite carries payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands.
GSAT-7, with a lift-off mass of 2,625 kg is based on ISRO's 2,500 kg satellite bus with some new technological elements, including the antennae. The solar arrays of the satellite generate 2,900 W of electrical power.
A 108 Ampere-hour lithium-ion battery keeps the satellite functional during the eclipse period. The propulsion subsystem comes with a 440 Newton liquid apogee motor (LAM) and thrusters.
