The French Ariane 5 ECA (Cryogenic Evolution type A) – the most powerful version in the Ariane 5 range – launched India’s 1st Military Communications Satellite GSAT-7, today.
The state-of-the-art GSAT-7 satellite carries payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands. With a lift-off mass of 2625 kg, GSAT-7 is an advanced communication satellite to provide wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data communication.
With this launch, Indian Navy (and Coast Guard) would possess an exclusive communications platform, relegating the existing communication link through the commercial INMARSAT, to ‘spare’ status.
In addition to GSAT-7, the Ariane 5 carried another spacecraft EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail, as the 1st payload.
ISRO cannot launch heavy satellites like GSAT-7 as the home-grown GSLV rocket, with indigenous cryogenic stage, is still at works and needs two successful flights before it becomes operational.
In comparison, today’s mission represents the
ISRO has a long history of launching payloads starting with the 3rd mission of an Ariane-series vehicle in 1981. Ariane now has launched 17 satellites for ISRO, including INSAT-3D last month (Ariane Flight VA214).
The state-of-the-art GSAT-7 satellite carries payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands. With a lift-off mass of 2625 kg, GSAT-7 is an advanced communication satellite to provide wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data communication.
With this launch, Indian Navy (and Coast Guard) would possess an exclusive communications platform, relegating the existing communication link through the commercial INMARSAT, to ‘spare’ status.
In addition to GSAT-7, the Ariane 5 carried another spacecraft EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail, as the 1st payload.
ISRO cannot launch heavy satellites like GSAT-7 as the home-grown GSLV rocket, with indigenous cryogenic stage, is still at works and needs two successful flights before it becomes operational.
In comparison, today’s mission represents the
- 215th launch of an Ariane-series rocket,
- the 71st liftoff for Ariane 5, and
- the 57th consecutive success for Ariane 5.
ISRO has a long history of launching payloads starting with the 3rd mission of an Ariane-series vehicle in 1981. Ariane now has launched 17 satellites for ISRO, including INSAT-3D last month (Ariane Flight VA214).
No comments:
Post a Comment