Engineering:GSAT-18

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GSAT-18
GSAT-18.png
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorINSAT
COSPAR ID2016-060A
SATCAT no.41793
WebsiteGSAT-18
Mission durationPlanned: 15 years
Elapsed: 7 years, 9 months, 13 days
Spacecraft properties
BusI-3K[1]
ManufacturerISRO Satellite Centre
Space Applications Centre
Launch mass3,404 kg (7,505 lb)[2]
Dry mass1,480 kg (3,263 lb)[2]
Power6,474 watts[2]
Start of mission
Launch date5 October 2016 (2016-10-05), ≈20:30 UTC[3]
RocketAriane 5 ECA, VA-231[1]
Launch siteGuiana Space Centre ELA-3[1]
ContractorArianespace[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude74° E
Perigee altitude35,750 km (22,214 mi)
Apogee altitude35,822 km (22,259 mi)
Inclination0.0616°
Epoch11 June 2017 01:46:00 UTC[4]
Transponders
Band24 × C band
12 × extended C band
12 × Ku band
2 × Ku beacon
← GSAT-15
GSAT-9 →
 

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.[3][5] 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][6] The total cost of the satellite and launch services was about US$153 million.[7]

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.[8][9] Arianespace later paired GSAT-18 with Australia's Sky Muster II for a 4 October 2016 launch.[10] The launch was delayed 24 hours to 5 October due to excessively high crosswinds at the launch site.[11]

Orbit raising and station keeping

Orbit raising operations were made using an on-board LAM and chemical thrusters[2] to place the satellite in the intended geostationary orbital slot.

Op # Date/
Time (UTC)
LAM burn time Height achieved Inclination
achieved
Orbital period References
Apogee Perigee
1 6 October 2016
10:16
6040.6 sec 35,802 km (22,246 mi) 14,843 km (9,223 mi) 1.325° 15 hrs, 36 mins [12]
2 8 October 2016
05:59
- 35,840 km (22,270 mi) 32,518 km (20,206 mi) 0.129° 22 hrs, 34 mins [13]
3 9 October 2016
04:51
256.17 sec 35,802 km (22,246 mi) 35,294 km (21,931 mi) 0.136° 23 hrs, 44 mins [14][15]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Annual Report 2015-2016" (PDF). Indian Space Research Organisation. December 2015. p. 28. http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/article-files/right-to-information/annual_report-15-16.pdf. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "GSAT-18". Indian Space Research Organisation. http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/flipping_book/GSAT-18/files/assets/common/downloads/GSAT%2018%20-%20Brochure.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Bergin, Chris (5 October 2016). "Ariane 5 launches Sky Muster II and GSAT-18". NASA Spaceflight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/ariane-5-sky-muster-ii-gsat-18-launch/. 
  4. "GSAT-18 - Orbit". Heavens-Above. 11 June 2017. http://heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=41793. 
  5. "India's communication satellite GSAT-18 launched successfully". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 6 October 2016. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/india-s-communication-satellite-gsat-18-launched-successfully-116100600381_1.html. 
  6. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 4 October 2016. https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/. 
  7. Clark, Stephen (5 October 2016). "Ariane 5 goes on test run after launching two satellites". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/05/ariane-5-goes-on-test-run-after-launching-two-satellites/. 
  8. de Selding, Peter B. (20 June 2016). "Japan's DSN-1 military communications satellite damaged during transport to launch base". Space News. http://spacenews.com/japans-dsn-1-military-communications-satellite-damaged-during-transport-to-launch-base/. 
  9. D. S., Madhumathi (10 July 2016). "Deferred GSAT-18 awaits October launch at Kourou". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/deferred-gsat18-awaits-october-launch-at-kourou/article8829906.ece. 
  10. "Sky Muster II comes to French Guiana for launch on Ariane 5". Arianespace. 31 August 2016. http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/sky-muster-satellite-delivered-for-flight-va231/. 
  11. "Bad weather delays Isro's launch of communications satellite GSAT-18". Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 5 October 2016. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bad-winds-delay-isro-s-launch-of-communications-satellite-gsat-18-by-a-day/story-edkq5GVmwYVTBl1t2xxp3M.html. 
  12. "The first orbit raising manoeuvre...". Indian Space Research Organisation. 7 October 2016. http://www.isro.gov.in/update/07-oct-2016/first-orbit-raising-manoeuvre-of-gsat-18-has-been-successffully-carried-out-lam. 
  13. "The second orbit raising manoeuvre...". Indian Space Research Organisation. 8 October 2016. http://www.isro.gov.in/update/08-oct-2016/second-orbit-raising-manoeuvre-of-gsat-18-has-been-successfully-carried-out-lam. 
  14. "Third LAM firing of GSAT-18...". Indian Space Research Organisation. 9 October 2016. http://www.isro.gov.in/update/09-oct-2016/third-lam-firing-of-gsat-18-25617-sec-has-been-successfully-completed-october-9. 
  15. "Orbit Determination results...". Indian Space Research Organisation. 9 October 2016. http://www.isro.gov.in/update/09-oct-2016/orbit-determination-results-third-lam-firing-are-apogee-x-perigee-height-was.