GSAT-1 Satellite Orbit Raised Further – 20 Apr 2001

The second orbit raising operation on the GSAT-1 satellite was successfully
carried out from the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan at 9:13 pm IST
last night (April 19, 2001). During this operation, the 440 Newton thrust
liquid apogee motor on board the satellite was fired for four minutes
imparting an additional velocity of 75 m per/sec when the satellite was at
its perigee point (the point closest to the earth). With this operation, the
satellite’s apogee (farthest point from the earth) has reached its
geo-synchronous altitude of 35,880 km, while the perigee is 3000 km. The
inclination of the orbit has also been reduced to 13.3 degree with respect
to the equatorial plane.

The operations on the satellite carried out last night involved a
well-coordinated and synchronised commanding operations among three ground
stations – Lake Cowichan in Canada, Fucino in Italy and the Master Control
Facility at Hassan. The next orbit raising manoeuvre is planned around 2:30
am IST on April 21, 2001. All satellite functions are normal.