India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was launched using the European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.
The 3477 kg GSAT-17 carries communication payloads in C-band, Extended C-band and S-band for providing various services to the country.
The satellite also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services.
GSAT-17 became India’s third communication satellite to successfully reach orbit in the past two months.
Launch Mass: 3477 kg
Mission Life: 15 years
Ariane-5 VA-238
Type of Satellite: Communication
Manufacturer: ISRO
Owner: ISRO
Application: Communication
Orbit Type: GTO
ISRO fosters the use of space to help develop the Indian subcontinent. It focuses on all types of space applications, including Earth observation, telecommunications, broadcasts of educational programs, science and navigation.
After its lift-off and a flight lasting about 39 minutes, GSAT-17 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 249 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,920 km, inclined at an angle of 3 degrees to the equator.
ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT-17 immediately after its separation from the launch vehicle. Preliminary health checks of the satellite revealed its normal functioning.
During the final stages of its orbit raising operations, the two solar arrays and both the antenna reflectors of GSAT-17 will be deployed. Following this, the satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration.
GSAT-17 will be positioned at its designated orbital slot in the geostationary orbit and will be co-located with some of the Indian operational geostationary satellites.
Later, it is planned to turn on the communication payloads of the satellite. After the successful completion of all the in-orbit tests, GSAT-17 will be ready for operational use.
The long-standing strategic partnership between ISRO and Arianespace reflects the strong relationship between India and France in the space sector.
After choosing Arianespace to launch its GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 satellites in 2015, ISRO selected Arianespace to launch its GSAT-11 satellite.
For its seventh launch of the year, and the fourth Ariane 5 mission in 2017 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace launched two payloads: Hellas Sat 3-Inmarsat S EAN, a “condosat” for Inmarsat and Hellas Sat; and GSAT-17 for the Indian space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).
With this 290th mission performed by its family of launchers, Arianespace is at the service of three major satellites operators: Hellas Sat, Inmarsat and ISRO.
Hellas Sat 3-Inmarsat S EAN
Arianespace orbit Hellas Sat 3-Inmarsat S EAN, a “condosat” for Hellas Sat and Inmarsat.
Its Hellas Sat 3 payload, the second Hellas Sat satellite, will deliver DTH (direct-to-home) and telecom services maintaining and expanding Hellas Sat business reach.
Hellas Sat (member of the Arabsat Group) is a premium satellite operator, offering services in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa from the orbital position of 39 East. It was established in August 2001 and owns and operates the Hellas Sat 2 high-power satellite.
Hellas Sat 3 will deliver in-orbit back-up DTH and telecom services in its designated coverage areas, maintaining and expanding Hellas Sat business reach with additional capacity and bringing video content in High Definition and Ultra High Definition format to the covered regions. The FSS/BSS coverage zones are Europe, the Middle East and Sub Saharan African countries, including a cross-trap service between Europe and South Africa.
A second Hellas Sat satellite is in Arianespace’s order book to enhance Hellas Sat service availability and support the company’s business plan to create the next DTH hotspot at 39 East.
The Inmarsat S EAN (European Aviation Network) payload is the ninth Inmarsat satellite to be launched by Arianespace.
Inmarsat is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air.
The European Aviation Network (EAN) builds upon a visionary and unique commercial and technological opportunity created by the European Commission’s DG CONNECT and subsequently supported by Member State telecoms regulators.
EAN is being brought to Europe in conjunction with strategic partner Deutsche Telekom. Scheduled to commence commercial services in the second half of 2017, EAN will deliver the most advanced aviation passenger Wi-Fi experience anywhere in the world and provide Europe’s aviation industry with an opportunity to build global leadership in aviation passenger Wi-Fi.
Inmarsat S EAN, the satellite component of the new network, will be placed into geostationary orbit over Europe, providing continent-wide S-band connectivity.
