About
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- GSAT-14 is a 1,982-kg communication satellite. GSAT-14 is expected to replace the GSAT-3 satellite, which was launched in 2004. GSAT-14 was launched by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.II (GSLV D5), which incorporated an Indian-built cryogenic engine on the third stage.
- After reaching Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), GSAT-14 will use its own propulsion system to reach its geostationary orbital home and will be stationed at 74º East longitude.
- GSAT-14 will help provide many satellite based communication services to the country including tele-education and telemedicine. The satellite carries six Ku-band and six Extended C-band transponders to provide coverage of the whole of India. GSAT-14 also carries two Ka-band beacons which will be used to conduct research into how weather affects Ka-band satellite communications. The satellite is powered by two solar arrays, generating 2,600 watts of power.
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PSLV and GSLV
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- India had in the last two decades 25 consecutive successes of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs).
- GSLV could not claim such a success rate. GSLV has attempted eight launches to date, since its first launch in 2001 through its most recent launch in 2014. Three launches have been successful, four have failed, and one was a partial failure, placing the satellite into an unplanned, but recoverable, orbit.
- While PSLV can carry satellites up to 2 tones to a low earth orbit, GSLV was needed for the launch of heavier satellites, especially of the telecommunication variety that need to be put in a 36,000km geosynchronous orbit.
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Perigee and Apogee
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- Perigee is the point nearest to earth while Apogee is the farthest point from earth. After a flight of 17 minutes 5 seconds, GSAT-14 satellite was precisely injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a Perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 175 km and an Apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,945 km with an orbital inclination of 19.3 degree with respect to the equator.
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Targeted Orbit of GSLV-D5
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- Perigee : 180 ± 5 km
- Apogee : 35975 ± 675 km
- Inclination : 19.3 ± 0.1 deg
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