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| GSAT ( Image Credits- ISRO) |
Source- The Hindu
GSAT-6, the advanced communication satellite that got ISRO’s arm Antrix Corporation embroiled in a controversy with erstwhile partner Devas Multimedia P Ltd in 2011, is slated for a March 2015 launch.
The S-band GSAT-6 satellite with five special transponders for multimedia services is “all done”, integrated and should start thermovacuum tests in late November, according to ISRO Satellite Centre’s Director, S.K.Shivakumar, whose centre readies all Indian spacecraft in Bangalore.
The 2,000-odd-kg satellite is to be launched on a GSLV launcher from Sriharikota. It was conceived in 2005 along with a follow-on GSAT-6A. The Centre cancelled the contract with Devas in February 2011, reserved GSAT-6 for military use; thereby hangs a hefty arbitration case pressed by Devas in The Hague.
Starting with GSAT-16 on December 5, ISRO has lined up a series of communication and Earth observation satellites over the next two or three years, Dr. Shivakumar told a news conference on Wednesday to announce Engineers’Conclave co-hosted by ISRO.
These satellites promise to fill a much needed demand for satellite capacity and continuation of services for users in the country. Currently, a third of the satellite capacity comes from on transponders leased on foreign satellites.
Among communication spacecraft, the 3,000-kg GSAT-16, as this daily has reported, will be flown on a European Ariane-5 launcher from French Guiana.
It will be followed by GSAT-15 in mid-2015; GSAT-18 [18] at the end of 2015; GSAT-17 in early 2016. (ISRO's satellite numbering order changes often.) All these satellites will be put in orbit on foreign launchers as the ISRO could not yet do it for 3000-class satellites, he said.
Among Earth observation satellites, Cartosat-2C will be the next to be flown in a year's time; it will have the highest ever resolution for an Indian satellite so far, of 62 cm. The best so far has been around 80 cm, but for select users.
“If this is achieved, it will be repeated for CArtosat-2D and 2E also,” Dr. Shivakumar said.
With the GSLV-MkIII launcher set for a test flight in the coming weeks, Dr. Shivakumar said it was expected to launch ISRO satellites of up to 4,000 kg in two years. The GSLV with a 2,000-kg capability is yet to become operational.
Original link to the article: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gsat6-slated-for-march-launch/article6545929.ece
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