The first orbit-raising operation of the GSAT-14 communication satellite was successfully carried out by ISRO today, a day after it was shot into space in a milestone launch by the GSLV-D5 rocket powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine.
The Apogee Motor on the spacecraft was fired for 3,134 seconds with a realised orbit of 8,966 km Perigee, nearest point to earth, by 35,744 km Apogee, the farthest point to earth, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.
ISRO said the remaining two orbit-raising operations are planned on January 7 and 9 to place the satellite in a geostationary orbit.
The indigenous cryogenic upper stage was successfully flight tested on the GSLV-D5 launch vehicle from the spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh yesterday, a feat that put India in an exclusive club comprising the US, Russia, France, Japan and China, which have mastered cryogenic engine technology.
With the successful mission of the GSLV-D5 that demonstrated India’s prowess to put satellites weighing more than two tonnes in orbit, ISRO has lined up more GSLV flights powered by indigenous cryogenic engines to launch the GSAT-6, 7A and 9, GISAT (Geo Imaging Satellite) and Chandrayaan-2.