ISRO to launch GSLV-F08 carrying the GSAT-6A communication satellite today
Countdown has started at Sriharikota for space agency ISRO’s big launch of a home-made communications satellite.
“The satellite will provide a platform for developing technologies such as the demonstration of a 6-meter S-Band Unfurlable Antenna, handheld ground terminals and network management techniques that could be useful in satellite-based mobile communication applications”, ISRO said in a statement.
GSAT-6A, is similar to GSAT-6, a high power S-band communication satellite built on I-2K satellite bus with a mission life of about ten years, it said.
The GSLV rocket weighs about 415.6 tonnes and measures 49.1 metre tall.
The whole of the India as well as the worldwide community will be keenly watching as the communication satellite GSAT-VI A is to be launched on Thursday aboard GSLV Mk-II rocket.
The cryogenic engine of the rocket, which is being tested for the sixth time, has new company: The high thrust Vikas engine, which works on liquid propellants, and will be used in the second stage to give the rocket a higher thrust.
The GSAT-6A’s “unfurlable antenna” is developed by the ISRO’s Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad.
ISRO had in January successfully launched as many as 31 satellites in a single mission from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.
In 2013, ISRO had launched the GSAT-7- a dedicated communications satellite for the maritime forces. He further said that the Chandrayan-2 will be launched in October.
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