By IANS,
Chennai: The Indian communication satellite GSAT-12 is now very near to its ultimate geo-stationary orbit at 36,000-km apogee, or farthest point from Earth, space agency ISRO said Monday.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully raised the satellite’s orbit to 35,721 km apogee and 10,074 km perigee (closet point from Earth) since its launch July 15.
“All the satellite sub-systems are functioning well. The orbit raising manoeuvres are progressing satisfactorily,” S. Satish, ISRO director, publications and public relations, told IANS on phone from Bangalore.
He said a total of three orbit raising operations have been carried out since the July 15 blast-off of teh rocket carrying the GSAT-12.
The Rs.105 crore GSAT-12 satellite with 12 extended C-band transponders – automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals – was launched by ISRO’s lighter rocket polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) from the space port at Sriharikota, around 80 km from Chennai, July 15 evening.
For an observer from earth, a satellite in geosynchronous orbit will seem motionless, stationary at one point in the sky.
The GSAT-12 carries around 851 kg of fuel on-board to fire the motors. Its lift-off mass was 1,410 kg.
Soon after the launch, T.K. Alex, director of ISRO Satellite Centre, said there will be sufficient fuel left in GSAT-12 after raising its orbit to 36,000 km apogee so that it can be in operation for seven years.