Heaviest Indian satellite GSAT-10 to lift off from French Guyana on September 29

Arun Ram, TNN | Sep 24, 2012, 04.43PM IST

CHENNAI: India's communication and navigation sectors will get a big boost this November, with the launch of G-SAT-10, a 3,400kg satellite, from the Kourou launch base in French Guyana on September 29. This is the heaviest satellite the Indian SpaceResearch Organisation has built. An Isrospokesman said GSAT-10 will be launched at 2.48am (IST) on September 29. With only one of the cryogenic engines sourced from Russia remaining in its kitty and the development of an indigenous cryogenic engine still on, Isro decided to use the Ariane-5 launch vehicle which will lift off from French Guyana. A cryogenic engine is needed to launch big rockets like GSLV which can carry more than 3,000kg satellites to space. GSAT-10 will travel to space as a co-passenger of ASTRA-2F made by SES, a global satellite services company. About 31 minutes after lift-off, GSAT-10 would be injected in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a perigee of 250km and an apogee of about 36,000 km. From there, the satellite would be moved to geostationary orbit (circular 36,000 km above equator) by using the satellite propulsion system in a three step approach. After this, the solar panels and antennas would be deployed. In the next few weeks, the payload would be turned on to perform a series of extensive in-orbit tests. "The satellite is expected to be operational by November 2012. GSAT-10 satellite will be positioned at 83 deg east orbital location along with INSAT-4A and GSAT-12. The nominal operational life of GSAT-10 is expected to be 15 years," an Isro release said. GSAT-10 satellite, carrying 30 communication transponders [12 Ku-band, 12 C-band and 6 Extended C-Band] would provide vital augmentation to INSAT/GSAT transponder capacity. Also, it has a Navigation payload Gagan that would provide improved accuracy of GPS signals (of better than seven meters) to be used by the Airports Authority of India for Civil Aviation requirements. This is the second satellite in the INSAT / GSAT constellation with Gagan payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2011.