GSAT-18
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Indian National Satellite System |
| Website | http://isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/gsat-18 |
| Mission duration |
Planned: 15 years Elapsed: 2 months, 5 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | I-3K[1] |
| Manufacturer |
ISRO Satellite Centre Space Applications Centre |
| Launch mass | 3,425 kg (7,551 lb)[1] |
| Power | 6,000 W[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 October 2016, ≈20:30 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA, VA231[1] |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre ELA-3[1] |
| Contractor | Arianespace[1] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 74° E |
| Transponders | |
| Band |
24 × C band 12 × extended C band 12 × Ku band 2 × Ku beacon |
GSAT-18 is an Indian communications satellite. Built by ISRO and operated by INSAT, it carries 24 C-band, 12 extended C-band, and 12 Ku-band transponders.
The satellite was launched on 5 October 2016 at approximately 20:30 UTC aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.[2][3] The launch vehicle inserted the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and once in service it will occupy the orbital slot at 74° East longitude.[1][4] The spacecraft and launch service cost about US$153 million.[5]
GSAT-18 was originally scheduled to launch on 12 July 2016 alongside Japan's Superbird-8 satellite, but a shipping mishap which damaged Superbird-8 forced a delay in the launch schedule.[6][7] Arianespace later paired GSAT-18 with Australia's Sky Muster II for a 4 October 2016 launch.[8] The launch was delayed 24 hours to 5 October due to excessively high crosswinds at the launch site.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Annual Report 2015-2016" (PDF). Indian Space Research Organisation. December 2015. p. 28.
- 1 2 Bergin, Chris (5 October 2016). "Ariane 5 launches Sky Muster II and GSAT-18". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ↑ "India's communication satellite GSAT-18 launched successfully". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ↑ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (5 October 2016). "Ariane 5 goes on test run after launching two satellites". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ↑ de Selding, Peter B. (20 June 2016). "Japan's DSN-1 military communications satellite damaged during transport to launch base". Space News. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ↑ D. S., Madhumathi (10 July 2016). "Deferred GSAT-18 awaits October launch at Kourou". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ↑ "Sky Muster II comes to French Guiana for launch on Ariane 5". Arianespace. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ↑ "Bad weather delays Isro's launch of communications satellite GSAT-18". Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.