GSAT-18 Communication Satellite Mission Overview

The GSAT-18 Communication Satellite Mission is a significant achievement for India's space program. The satellite was launched on June 5, 2017, aboard the Ariane-5 VA-238 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

GSAT-18 is designed to provide a wide range of communication services, including television, telephony, and internet connectivity. The satellite has a payload capacity of 3,150 kg and is equipped with 24 transponders in the C-band and 12 transponders in the Ku-band.

The GSAT-18 satellite is expected to serve the country's communication needs for the next 15 years. It will cover the entire country and also provide services to neighboring countries.

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The GSAT-18 satellite was launched into space using an Ariane 5 VA-231 rocket.

The launch took place at Kourou, French Guiana, a common location for satellite launches.

Here are the key details about the launch:

The GSAT-18 Communication Satellite was launched on October 6, 2016. This marked the beginning of the mission's timeline.

The launch vehicle used for this mission was the Ariane 5 VA-231. This rocket was chosen for its reliability and ability to reach the desired orbit.

The launch site for the GSAT-18 mission was Kourou, French Guiana. This location provides a strategic advantage for launching satellites into orbit.

Here are the key launch details:

The primary phase of the mission is expected to last around 12 years, with an end-of-life marker set for around 2028.

Orbit Adjustment is a crucial step in getting a satellite into the right position. The satellite in question underwent three orbit raising operations to achieve its intended geostationary orbital slot.

Each operation used a combination of an on-board LAM and chemical thrusters to adjust the satellite's height and inclination. The first operation took place on October 6, 2016, at 10:16 UTC and lasted for 6040.6 seconds.

The satellite's height was increased to 35,802 km (22,246 mi) and its inclination to 1.325°. This resulted in an orbital period of 15 hours and 36 minutes.

The second operation occurred on October 8, 2016, at 05:59 UTC and achieved a height of 35,840 km (22,270 mi) with an inclination of 0.129°. The orbital period increased to 22 hours and 34 minutes.

The third and final operation took place on October 9, 2016, at 04:51 UTC and lasted for 256.17 seconds. This resulted in a height of 35,802 km (22,246 mi) and an inclination of 0.136°, with an orbital period of 23 hours and 44 minutes.

Here's a summary of the three operations:

The GSAT-18 satellite was built around the I-3K bus, which has a launch mass of 3404 kg. This configuration is a key aspect of the satellite's design.

The spacecraft features a range of transponders, including C-band, Extended C-band, and Ku-band models. These transponders are essential for facilitating the satellite's primary and secondary objectives.

The GSAT-18 satellite was deployed into Geostationary Orbit (GEO) after its launch on October 6, 2016. This orbit is ideal for communication satellites like GSAT-18.

Here are the technical specifications of the GSAT-18 satellite:

The economic and social impact of GSAT-18 is a mixed bag. The satellite delivered information on communication and broadcast services, which is a significant contribution to civilian life.

Television broadcasting, VSAT services, and digital satellite news gathering are just a few examples of the applications of GSAT-18. These services have a direct impact on people's lives, making them more connected and informed.

The estimated revenue loss due to underutilized transponders on GSAT-18 is ₹117 crore, which is a significant amount of money that could have been used for other important purposes.

India's space sector has been a cost-effective success story, but with increasing scale and public investment, ensuring economic prudence is now a necessity. The recent concerns over the underutilisation of transponders on GSAT-18 highlight the importance of efficient planning and optimal asset usage.

The GSAT-18 satellite was launched in 2016 with 48 transponders, but 6 of its extended C-band transponders have remained idle and are expected to remain unused until 2027. This is because another satellite, GSAT-14, carrying overlapping transponders, will remain operational until September 2027.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised key concerns over the idle asset usage, revenue loss, cost duplication, and mission planning deficiency. The underutilised transponders on GSAT-18 represent a lost opportunity and avoidable cost, with an estimated ₹117 crore in lost revenue.

To enhance fiscal efficiency in the space sector, the following steps are necessary:

By following these steps, India's space sector can evolve beyond mission success to include efficient and economically prudent utilisation of public funds.

The ISRO Comm Satellite, specifically GSAT-18, has delivered valuable information on communication and broadcast services. This is a significant contribution to the country's communication program.

GSAT-18 was launched to address long-term needs, including augmented communication satellite capacity for national needs. This mission has helped to expand the country's communication capabilities.

The satellite has enabled various applications in civilian life, including television broadcasting, VSAT services, and digital satellite news gathering. These services are essential for the country's communication infrastructure.

GSAT-18 has also contributed to the augmentation of the INSAT/GSAT system capacity, a milestone in the communication program. This achievement has paved the way for future communication satellites to expand services and carry forward the objectives initiated during GSAT-18.

Here are some key outputs and applications of the GSAT-18 Communication Satellite Mission:

The future of communication satellites is promising, with planned missions including future communication satellites for expanding services.

The GSAT-18 communication satellite was launched into space using a powerful launch vehicle. The Ariane 5 VA-231 was the vehicle of choice for this mission.

This rocket is a reliable and efficient way to reach orbit, with a proven track record of successful launches. The Ariane 5 has been used in numerous space missions over the years.

The launch took place at the Kourou space center in French Guiana, a strategic location for satellite launches. This site offers a direct path to geostationary orbit, making it an ideal location for satellite launches.

Here's a summary of the launch information: