GSAT-6A Will Provide Mobile Communication to Armed Forces

Last Updated on May 8, 2018 by Bharat Saini

GSAT-6A, a communication satellite that will provide new possibilities for mobile applications, was successfully launched into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on board India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle – GSLV-F08 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage on Thursday March 29, 2018. This launch of GSLV was its twelfth and took place from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota – the spaceport of India and is its fifth consecutive success. Soon after separation from GSLV, the two solar arrays of GSAT-6A were automatically deployed in quick succession and the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka assumed control of the Satellite.  GSAT-6A will complement the GSAT-6, which has been orbiting since August 2015 at 83 degrees East longitude.

1. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), soon after the satellite was successfully placed in an initial orbit said, “These two satellites combined are going to provide platforms for development of advanced technologies such as the unfurl-able antenna, hand-held devices, and ground networks.”

• GSAT-6A, the second predominantly S-band communications satellite, built by ISRO is equipped with S and C band transponders to provide mobile communication services through multi beam coverage.

• GSAT-6A, the 2,000-kg-class 6A is more than a routine communications satellite that is designated for the use of the Armed Forces and will not add any transponder capacity for general uses.

• GSAT-6A’s antenna has a diameter of six metres that will be unfurled in the coming days and opened like an umbrella in its prescribed orbit, and will improve India’s communication capabilities.
• GSAT-6A will enable mobile communication from anywhere via hand-held ground terminals.
• GSAT-6A in its oval shaped GTO is now orbiting the Earth with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 169.4 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 36,692.5 km with an orbital inclination of 20.64 degree with respect to the equator.
• GSAT-6A’s orbit will be raised in the coming days from its present GTO to the final circular Geostationary Orbit (GSO) by firing the satellite’s Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) in stages.
• GSAT-6A Satellite will be commissioned into service after the completion of orbit raising operations and it’s positioning in the designated slot in GSO following in-orbit testing of its payloads.