Monday, May 14, 2012

Most powerful PSLV launches communication satellite GSAT 12


In the 18th successful launch of PSLV, viz PSLV- C17, launched GSAT-12,a 1,410 kg communication satellite.



The launch vehicle lifted off from Sriharikota at 4.40 pm and thirty minutes later, it injected the satellite into an orbit with a perigee (closest point to earth) of 284 km and an apogee (farthest point) of 21,000 km.
The PSLV-C17 had six extended solid strap-on motors attached to the core of 1st stage. ( A configuration similar to to the one used for the Chandrayaan-1 mission on October 22, 2008. )
A feat which thrilled me most was seeing that althogh the perigee is 284 kms, the rocket carried the satellite to about 300kms and then stopped boost ( shut the 4th stage ) so that the craft, while coming to the desired perigee ( due to gravity ) attained a proper angle at the time of release so that it is placed in the desired orbit of 284Kms X 21000Kms elliptical orbit.

As soon as we get more inputs in public domain I will try to generate and orbit diagram at every new input available and publish it in our Technotes Blog till the geo-sync orbit is attained.

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