ISRO successfully launches GSAT-12 at Shriharikota
By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 16 July 2011, 00:53 IST   |    9 Comments
Printer Print Email Email
ISRO successfully launches GSAT-12 at Shriharikota
Bangalore: GSAT -12A has been launched from the space port Shriharikota which is 80kms far from Chennai. The launching happened at 4:48pm (IST). This 90 Crore project is launched from the PSLV Launch vehicle. The PSLV zoomed into cloudy skies as scientists broke into cheers at the mission. This is the first pure communication satellite. It is configured as a replacement of INSAT-3B and lugging the 12 Extended C band transponders. GSAT-12 is configured on well proven I-1K bus structure with the power handling capability of around 919 watts with a lift off mass of about 1400kg. GSAT-12 was injected into an elliptical Transfer Orbit of 284 km perigee (closest point to Earth) and 21,000 km apogee (farthest point to Earth). This satellite will be helping the doctors and the teachers in the cities analyze and teach the rural India via satellite link as this satellite's transponders are for tele-medicine and education.This satellite would be co-located with INSAT-2E and INSAT-4A satellites. The reason for the launch of GSAT-12 as India has a severe shortage of the communication satellite. This is a fast track satellite built up to increase the capacity of transponders for Indian users. The communication satellite also favors India's telecom and television revolution. ISRO yearned for having at least 500 transponders by 2012 but till date it is just 175. They have chartered 86 transponders on foreign satellites even plans to hire a satellite which is not enough. The drawback is communication satellites are heavy and they have to fly too high, so the needs of powerful rockets to carry these are required. After the two failures in the year 2010, the geo stationery launch vehicle (GSLV) will be off for launches only by the year 2012. The ISRO has used PSLV which is on steroids with 6 extra large motors and 12 tonnes of fuel to take the GSAT-12 into space.The satellite, with a mission life of about eight years, and the PSLV together cost about Rs 200 crore. ISRO officials said the "GSAT-12 and all parameters were 'healthy."

Votal AI: Redefining Workforce Efficiency Through Ethical AI