Satellite Systems

SATELLITE SYSTEMS

Indian satellite systems fall into two categories; Remote-Sensing & Communications. The main programs being;

Apple - Araine Passenger Payload Experiment

Launched on 19 June 1981 from Kourou. Weight - 670kg. GEO at 102°E. India's first indigenous GEO test communications satellite, launched with the ESA's Meteosat 2. The Indian TV programs and educational teleconferences were relayed despite a jammed solar panel. It was de-activated on September 1983.

Mass at Launch: 670 kg

Launch Site: Kourou

Geostationary Orbit: 102° East

Aryabhata

Named after a 5th century Indian mathematician. The objective of this satellite was to study astronomy sources and relations between the earth and the sun (ionosphere study). The satellite was launched on 19 May 1975 aboard the Intercosmos launch vehicle but due a transformer failure it was out of service in four days.

The Aryabhata

Mass at Launch: 360 kg.

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar

Perigee/Apogee: 398 km / 409 km

Inclination: 50.7°

Bhaskara

Named after a Seventh Century Indian astronomer. Two satellites were built designated the Bhaskara 1 and the Bhaskara 2.

Bhaskara 1 - Launched on 7th June 1979 from Kapustin Yar aboard the Intercosmos launch vehicle. The satellite consisted of two TV cameras and microwave radiometers, it cost Rs.65 million and was to spend one year studying India's resources. Useful ocean and land surface data were received but the cameras malfunctioned. Housekeeping telemetry was received until re-entry on 17 February 1989.

Mass at Launch: 444 kg.

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar.

Perigee/Apogee: 394 km / 399 km.

Inclination: 50.7°

Bhaskara 2 - Launched on 20 November 1981 from Kapustin Yar. It was declared operational after receipt of 300 television images of the Indian sub-continent. The housekeeping telemetry was still being received until 1991. It re-entered orbit on 30 November 1991.

Mass at Launch: 436 kg.

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar.

Perigee/Apogee: 368 km / 372 km.

Inclination: 50.7°