<p>The satellite, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said, is in the final configuration of 36,000 km circular orbit and the 12 transponders onboard would be tested during the next four to six weeks before the satellite is put to commercial use. <br /><br />The deployment of the antenna was scheduled in the afternoon so that the environment in the space suits the operations. “For such a deployment, we need the temperature there (space/orbit) to be above zero degree and that is why we scheduled it now,” an engineer explained to Deccan Herald.<br /><br />And the alarm, as explained by ISRO Satellite Centre Director T K Alex was because of bad space weather. The radiations from the Sun had disrupted communication from the satellite for a few seconds. “…But our engineers dealt with the problem well. These are routine problems that we deal with,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters, after the manoeuvre conducted at the Spacecraft Control Centre at the MCF, about eight km from here Radhakrishnan said the communication antenna onboard the satellite was deployed successfully today and the satellite was in its final orbital configuration, pointing towards Earth. GSAT-12 is now located 63 degree East longitude. The Satellite would be moved to reach its designated longitude of 83 degree East within the next 16 days at the rate of one degree per day. It will be co-located with INSAT-2E and INSAT-4A Satellites initially and will in the future replace the ageing INSAT 2E.<br /><br />The INSAT-2E, launched in 1999, has a life cycle of 12 years. Radhakrishnan said after parking the Satellite at this location, the Communication transponders are planned to be switched on by August 6, followed by in-orbit testing. He added that the satellite was in good health and was on continuous radio-visibility from the MCF here.<br /><br />He pointed out that the country faced a shortage of 200 transponders and augmenting them will be the main focus of the space agency rather than looking for business from foreign countries to build satellites.<br /><br />“We will be launching GSAT-10 in 2012 which will further augment 30 more transponders. We are also in talk with foreign agencies to hire transponders, he said, adding that India has unfulfilled demands. <br /><br /></p>
<p>The satellite, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said, is in the final configuration of 36,000 km circular orbit and the 12 transponders onboard would be tested during the next four to six weeks before the satellite is put to commercial use. <br /><br />The deployment of the antenna was scheduled in the afternoon so that the environment in the space suits the operations. “For such a deployment, we need the temperature there (space/orbit) to be above zero degree and that is why we scheduled it now,” an engineer explained to Deccan Herald.<br /><br />And the alarm, as explained by ISRO Satellite Centre Director T K Alex was because of bad space weather. The radiations from the Sun had disrupted communication from the satellite for a few seconds. “…But our engineers dealt with the problem well. These are routine problems that we deal with,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters, after the manoeuvre conducted at the Spacecraft Control Centre at the MCF, about eight km from here Radhakrishnan said the communication antenna onboard the satellite was deployed successfully today and the satellite was in its final orbital configuration, pointing towards Earth. GSAT-12 is now located 63 degree East longitude. The Satellite would be moved to reach its designated longitude of 83 degree East within the next 16 days at the rate of one degree per day. It will be co-located with INSAT-2E and INSAT-4A Satellites initially and will in the future replace the ageing INSAT 2E.<br /><br />The INSAT-2E, launched in 1999, has a life cycle of 12 years. Radhakrishnan said after parking the Satellite at this location, the Communication transponders are planned to be switched on by August 6, followed by in-orbit testing. He added that the satellite was in good health and was on continuous radio-visibility from the MCF here.<br /><br />He pointed out that the country faced a shortage of 200 transponders and augmenting them will be the main focus of the space agency rather than looking for business from foreign countries to build satellites.<br /><br />“We will be launching GSAT-10 in 2012 which will further augment 30 more transponders. We are also in talk with foreign agencies to hire transponders, he said, adding that India has unfulfilled demands. <br /><br /></p>
