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GSAT-6A Launch by GSLV F08

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March 30, 2018

Why in news?

The GSLV F08 launched the GSAT 6A communication satellite into its orbit, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

What is GSAT-6A for?

  • GSAT-6A, similar to its predecessor GSAT-6, is a high power S-band communication satellite.
  • It has a mission life of around 10 years.
  • The satellite has a six-metre wide antenna that would unfurl once it is in space.
  • The antenna, meant for S-band communication, is 3 times broader than those generally used in ISRO satellite.
  • This feature facilitates mobile communication for the country through handheld ground terminals.
  • The smaller antenna in other communication satellites requires larger ground stations.
  • The GSAT-6A is intended to provide communication services through multibeam coverage.
  • The satellite would also provide services to the Indian Armed Forces.
  • The GSAT-6A was successfully placed in GTO (Geo-stationary Transfer Orbit).
  • Soon after separation from GSLV, the two solar arrays of GSAT-6A were automatically deployed in quick succession.
  • The Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka assumed control of the satellite.

 

What is the significance?

  • Launch - The launch took ISRO a step towards realising its second Moon mission Chandrayaan 2 planned for October 2018.
  • The launch was the 12th satellite launched on board the GSLV rocket.
  • This is the fifth consecutive success for a GSLV equipped with an indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage engine.
  • GSLV - The GSLV F08 is an improved and a fully operational version of ISRO’s heavy-lift GSLV Mk II rocket series.
  • The GSLV, specifically the GSLV F10, is the designated rocket to fly India’s second mission to the Moon, the Chandrayaan 2.
  • In the absence of heavy-lift rocket technology, India has been relying on France for launching its communication satellites.

  • Vikas Engine - Vikas engine powered the rocket’s second stage.
  • The performance of the vehicle is enhanced with an improved Vikas engine.
  • The improved engine has increased the thrust by 6%, thereby enhancing payload capability of the vehicle by 50%.
  • The second stage also had electromechanical actuation system replacing electrohydraulic actuation system.
  • This is to enhance the reliability of the rocket.
  • These improvements to the vehicle would be incorporated into GSLV’s future missions, including Chandrayaan-2.

Why is the cryogenic stage significant?

  • The indigenous cryogenic stage on the GSLV is the third stage, and uses liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser.
  • Challenge - Cryogenic engine uses propellants at extremely low temperatures.
  • The resultant and associated thermal and structural problems make cryogenic stage a very complex system.
  • Benefits - Cryogenic engines provides more thrust for every kg of propellant it burns.
  • It is a highly efficient rocket stage as the efficiency is better when compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant stages.
  • Cryogenic engines also keep fuel loads relatively low.
  • GSLV - Cryogenic engines provide unprecedented thrust to GSLV rockets in their final stages.
  • Nearly 50% of the power for GSLV rockets as they push into space comes from the cryogenic stage.

How did the cryogenic technology evolve in India?

  • India had first ventured on the path of obtaining cryogenic technology in 1992.
  • It had a two-pronged strategy of purchasing cryogenic engines from Russia, and acquiring the technology from the US.
  • But following the 1998 nuclear tests and the sanctions that followed, the US denied India cryogenic technology.
  • ISRO used 7 cryogenic engines sold by Russia for the early phase of its GSLV programme that began in 2001.
  • Parallelly, India ventured into developing an indigenous technology.
  • GSLV launches with Russian engines, including early operational flights, had mixed results, with only 2 flights going perfectly to plan.
  • The first GSLV flight with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage failed on April 15, 2010.
  • But India is now among 6 nations, along with the US, Russia, France, Japan and China, to possess cryogenic engine technology.

What lies ahead?

  • ISRO is still in the process of developing a fully operational GSLV Mk III rocket.
  • This can carry satellites weighing more than 4 tonnes to space.
  • The cryogenic upper stage in the GSLV Mk III rocket uses the C25 engine.
  • This is an improvement on C20 cryogenic engines used in the GSLV Mk II rockets.
  • A GSLV Mk III D2 rocket is scheduled to fly a GSAT 29 communication satellite to space in its second mission soon in the year.

 

Source: Indian Express

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