MUMBAI: There could not have been a more appropriate Diwali gift for Isro than the successful launch early on Wednesday of the 3,164 kg GSAT-15, India's latest communication satellite by Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
With 24 transponders in the ku band, GSAT-15's primary role will be to boost direct-to-home broadcasting as well as enhance the GPS-aided augmented navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands. This will mainly help the civil aviation sector.
GSAT-15 is the 19th payload launched by Arianespace for Isro. It will replace the ageing Insat 3A and 4B spacecraft when they retire. Isro Satellite Centre director Mylswamy Annadurai announced in Kourou that GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 will be launched by Arianespace next year.
Following a countdown of 11 hours and 30 minutes, Ariane 5 lifted off at 3.04 am (IST) on Wednesday. Then after a flight of 43 minutes and 24 seconds, GSAT-15 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) with a perigee (nearest point to earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point from earth) of 35,819 km.
12/11/15 Srinivas Laxman/The Times Of India
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With 24 transponders in the ku band, GSAT-15's primary role will be to boost direct-to-home broadcasting as well as enhance the GPS-aided augmented navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands. This will mainly help the civil aviation sector.
GSAT-15 is the 19th payload launched by Arianespace for Isro. It will replace the ageing Insat 3A and 4B spacecraft when they retire. Isro Satellite Centre director Mylswamy Annadurai announced in Kourou that GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 will be launched by Arianespace next year.
Following a countdown of 11 hours and 30 minutes, Ariane 5 lifted off at 3.04 am (IST) on Wednesday. Then after a flight of 43 minutes and 24 seconds, GSAT-15 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) with a perigee (nearest point to earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point from earth) of 35,819 km.
12/11/15 Srinivas Laxman/The Times Of India
