GSAT-6 Satellite successfully positioned in orbital slot of 83 Degree East

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully positioned India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-6 into its orbital slot.
It was positioned in its orbital slot 83 Degree east after carrying out four drift arresting maneuvers. It has been collocated with other four communication satellites INSAT-4A, IRNSS1C, GSAT 12 and GSAT 10.

About GSAT-6 satellite

• GSAT-6 satellite was carrying S-Band and C-Band transponders meant for public and strategic purposes. It weighs 2117 kg and has mission life of nine years.
• The satellite is having S-Band Unfurlable Antenna (UFA) of 6 m diameter. This is the largest antenna ever made by ISRO for a satellite.
• This antenna is utilized for five spot beams over the Indian mainland to exploit the frequency reuse scheme and to increase frequency spectrum utilization efficiency in India.
• GSAT-6 is the 25th geostationary communication satellite of India and 12th in the GSAT series.
• Application: It will provide S-band multimedia communication and broadcasting services across the country. C-Band is for strategic purpose and it will provide national security and law enforcement agencies a secured satellite telephony services.

Background
ISRO had successfully launched GSAT-6 from an indigenous cryogenic engine GSLV-D6 rocket from Sriharikota on 27 August 2015. ISRO had performed successive orbit raising operation of the satellite and had deployed the UFA successfully after the launch.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2015