Indian Space Programme Discussion

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 02 Nov 2015 20:50

which is the site people use for satellite orbit tracking/visualization ?
any option other than n2yo ?

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 04 Nov 2015 22:02

^^^

A few sites similar to n2yo are :
http://www.satview.org/
http://www.opensats.net/

as also NASA's :
ISAT ..... http://science.nasa.gov/iSat/?group=SMD
and NASA's eyes : You have to download and install application .. a very useful and highly interactive tool. But, You need to practice it by playing with it.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 05 Nov 2015 06:41

GSAT-15 set to replace dying INSAT-3A and 4B - Madhumitha D.S., The Hindu

GSAT-15, the mainly communications satellite being put in space next week, will replace two older spacecraft that will likely expire in the coming months.

Its 24 transponders are solely in the Ku band and will cater to DTH (direct-to-home) television first, besides supporting the thousands of VSAT operators who provide broadband services; and DSNG (digital satellite news gathering) for TV news channels.

GSAT-15 will not add new transponder capacity to the country; it will ‘ensure sustainability of service’for the capacity-hungry DTH sector, according to A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and Secretary, Department of Space. It will also carry the third GAGAN satellite navigation transponder as a back-up for airlines and other users of augmented GPS-based systems.

Leased transponders

Indian DTH broadcasters have been forced to lease 59 transponders on foreign satellites over the region; less than half of that capacity (26) is allotted for DTH on Indian communication satellites, mainly to Doordarshan and Tata Sky.

The immediate focus is on bridging the Ku-band shortage, Mr. Kiran Kumar told The Hindu .

“There is a constraint on spectrum. We want to reduce dependence on external transponders in about two years. We are in the process of finalising a solution for it. But I cannot spell out details.”

The heavyweight 4,000-kg-class GSAT-11 due in a couple of years, would add a significant number of transponders for national users, he said.

GSAT-15, weighing 3,164 kg, will be launched in the wee hours of November 11 (IST) from Kourou in French Guiana (in South America) on the European Arianespace’s Ariane-5 launcher.

The satellite cost and the launch fee are around Rs. 860 crore.

GSAT-15 will be flown along with Saudi Arabia’s Arabsat-6B/Badr-7.

To be stationed over the country at a slot at 93.5 degrees East longitude, the upcoming satellite must quickly replace INSAT-3A and INSAT-4B that are completing their tenure-- one in November and another later next year, Mr. Kiran Kumar said.

INSAT-3A, launched in April 2003, has completed its 12-year life. INSAT-4B, flown in March 2007, got reduced to half its functions in 2010 after one of its two power-generating solar panels developed a snag.

The two Indian rockets -- PSLV and GSLV -- cannot pitch the weight of GSAT-15 to its slot 36,000 km high. Mr. Kiran Kumar said ISRO had signed up Arianespace to launch GSAT-17, GSAT-18 and the heavier GSAT-11.

a_bharat · Post by **a_bharat** » 05 Nov 2015 12:32

National Geographic's Mangalyaan documentary: India's Mars Mission

The National Geographic Channel has announced that it will air a documentary on India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) a.k.a Mangalyaan and how it successfully entered the orbit of the red planet.

The documentary will premiere on the satellite channel on November 5, exactly two years after the launch of the mission. The documentary will feature a one-hour show about the mission including its making and the challenges that the team faced during the entire time.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 05 Nov 2015 15:04

The news reporter is mixing up her 11s & 15s, and her years and days too...

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 05 Nov 2015 18:08

What?

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 05 Nov 2015 18:34

First Light with the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) for ASTROSAT
http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c30-astrosa ... t-astrosat

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 05 Nov 2015 18:36

Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet - Download the E-book

http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... 76901.epub

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 05 Nov 2015 18:41

Celebrating one year of Mars Orbiter Mission in Orbit; Release of Mars Atlas

http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c25-mars-or ... se-of-mars

(Mars Atlas PDF available at above site)

Hitesh · Post by **Hitesh** » 05 Nov 2015 20:16

a_bharat wrote:National Geographic's Mangalyaan documentary: India's Mars Mission
The National Geographic Channel has announced that it will air a documentary on India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) a.k.a Mangalyaan and how it successfully entered the orbit of the red planet.

The documentary will premiere on the satellite channel on November 5, exactly two years after the launch of the mission. The documentary will feature a one-hour show about the mission including its making and the challenges that the team faced during the entire time.

Do we ever see this show in America?

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 05 Nov 2015 22:49

NGTV US schedule returns " NO RESULTS" when searched for Mangalyaan / India Mars .. etc.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 05 Nov 2015 23:13

SSSalvi wrote:^^^

A few sites similar to n2yo are :
http://www.satview.org/
http://www.opensats.net/

as also NASA's :
ISAT ..... http://science.nasa.gov/iSat/?group=SMD
and NASA's eyes : You have to download and install application .. a very useful and highly interactive tool. But, You need to practice it by playing with it.

thank you sir.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 05 Nov 2015 23:33

Nick_S wrote:Celebrating one year of Mars Orbiter Mission in Orbit; Release of Mars Atlas

http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c25-mars-or ... se-of-mars

(Mars Atlas PDF available at above site)

From above link, check the pic of SDRE scientists with the Mars Atlas
link

Siddhu · Post by **Siddhu** » 07 Nov 2015 10:15

I missed the documentary on national geo, and have been searching since yesterday. Is any one able to find it online?

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 07 Nov 2015 20:05

http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c30-astrosa ... t-astrosat
First light of soft X Ray telescope of Astrosat.
The Soft X-ray grazing incidence doubly reflecting Telescope (shown below with optics and camera) with a cooled CCD at its focus was launched on board the ASTROSAT on September 28th, 2015.

Schematic view of SXT Actual view of SXT

Front view of the assembled X-ray optics

Focal Plane Camera Assembly

The SXT was brought to life in a preplanned manner as described below, and is found to be working perfectly.

The first task was to vent the inside of the camera to release any build up of pressure since it was evacuated 24 days before launch. This is very important to avoid any condensation on the CCD inside that had already been made cold to a cold finger, which in turn is connected via a Heat Pipe to the Radiator Plate on a side of the satellite that is kept away from the Sun. Therefore, the Processing Electronics was switched on Sep 30th, and venting of the camera by opening a valve actuated by a HOP (High Output Paraffin) motor was started at the earliest opportunity. Venting once every day was continued on a daily basis until Oct 26th. The cold finger was observed to vary in temperature by ~12 degrees in different parts of the orbit in a range spanning -42C and -60C. The CCD had the same temperature. These temperatures were monitored and on October 9th, after the venting had been completed the thermo-electric cooler (TEC) and the temperature control circuit were switched on. The CCD temperature was then stabilized around -82C with a swing of only 2C around this set point. This set point is slightly cooler then the planned value of -80C but provides a steadier temperature on the CCD, despite the large swing of temperature of the cold finger that is likely to continue through the mission. A slightly colder CCD in fact ensures a very good performance throughout the mission. In the following days, data were taken in various modes of operation of the CCD and spectra from internal calibration sources were taken and found to be consistent with the values during the thermo-vac tests on the ground. The Focal Plane Camera was thus found to be working as expected and ready to do astronomy, awaiting the opening of the doors.

The integrity of a thin (0.2 microns with 0.2 microns of aluminum coating) optical blocking filer in front of the CCD was checked with LED ON and found to be intact. This was done on October 11th and the result shown below (left) is identical to the pre-launch observation. An X-ray image of the 5 calibration sources (four on the corners and one in the center under the camera door) is also shown (right) below, and shows that X-ray performance is excellent

The energy spectrum obtained from the five calibration sources based on data taken on Oct. 12th , 2015 is shown below:

All the principal lines can be seen clearly at the resolution expected based on pre-launch thermo-vac results. A preliminary fit with the current response model and some identified lines is shown and fit to the principal lines is found to be excellent. Please note the data are plotted on log-log scale, which enhances the small differences at low energies, and that will be improved further.

The Telescope Door on top of the X-ray Optics was opened on Oct 15th. The telescope tube structure holding the optics was thus allowed to vent out all the residual gases that might have been built up inside the telescope structure, before launch (The Camera Door was scheduled to open on Oct. 26th). All the temperatures (optics, cold finger, CCD) were maintained as before (see the graph above), and the CCD was put in the Bias mode and data were collected. All the CCD characteristics: gain, noise levels etc. using the five radioactive (Fe55) sources were found to be unchanged and thus in excellent shape.

The most crticial operation was the opening of the Camera Door. This was scheduled after one final venting of the camera to ensure that the very thin optical blocking filter does not experience any differential pressure when the camera door is opened. The camera door was opened on Oct 26th @ 06:30 UT. The telescope, in the meantime had already been maneuvered to point at PKS2155-304 – a bright blazar (a special type of Quasar with a superluminal jet – a stream of particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light -- pointing almost towards the telescope) about 1.5 billion light years away. This is the moment we have been waiting for. An orbit later once we had switched to the PC mode of observation for the PKS2155-304, we could see the source almost at the center of the CCD as was expected. Results obtained from a preliminary analysis are shown in picture below and we were elated to see the X-rays from PKS2155-304 focused on the CCD. This vindicated that the X-ray optics is working perfectly, and the mission people have been able to keep a proper and very steady pointing towards the source. A slight offset of the source from the exact central position by ~3 arcmins, is most likely due to a very small error in internal alignment rather than pointing error. The source strength (for events of 0-12 type) has produced ~5 cps, with the background being <~ 0.1 cps, consistent with the source being in a low state. The preliminary analysis also shows that the psf is around 2.5 arcmin (FWHM), well within our expectations. The light curve and X-ray spectra are being studied. This source is being observed continuously until Nov. 3rd at different offset positions of the CCD to further characterize the X-ray optics. A near- simultaneous observation with Swift has also been planned, for cross-calibration. The SXT observations will then focus on X-ray dark stars to evaluate the efficiency of the optical blocking filter. Observations of several other sources of various types are planned until March 2016 to fully characterize the SXT in the coming months.

Another task after opening the door was to immediately check the integrity of the thin (0.2 microns) optical blocking filter by turning on the LED inside the camera for 2 minutes. Though this operation happened when the bright earth was in view of the SXT that was dazzling the SXT camera, we were able to get a glimpse of a healthy filter in the Quick Look Data, though it took some time. During the bright earth view by the SXT, the light fills every pixel with events, and since the buffer size for the CCD is 10% of the total number of the pixels in the CCD, it leads to incomplete frame being transmitted to ground. The SXTobservations, therefore, need to avoid viewing the bright earth while carrying out astronomical observations. This duration combined with the period of the source being eclipsed by the earth implies that the efficiency of observing with SXT will be about ~35%, except while pointing towards the polar regions in the sky coordinates. This is as expected.

In conclusion, the SXT is functioning as per its specifications in terms of sensitivity, spatial and spectral resolution, and has started observing the celestial objects in the universe.

[SXT was built by a consortium led by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, in collaboration with the University of Leicester, UK, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,Thiruvananthapuram, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahemdabad. A number of industries in Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru participated in the fabrication of the payload.]

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 08 Nov 2015 01:19

Manned mission not a priority: Isro chief.

The much-publicized manned space mission is not a priority for Indian Space Research Organization (Isro), Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar said here on Saturday.

"Right now, it (manned mission) is not a priority at all. Our priority is to build capacity for new (satellite) launches," Kumar said while interacting with reporters on the side-lines of convocation of KIIT University.

The Isro chief, who is also the secretary, department of space, said the agency is planning to increase the frequency of new satellite launches to 10 to 12 per year. From December to March, there would be at least one launch every month, he said.

Kumar said it would be a difficult task to give any time line for human spaceflight programme in the country. But it is very much part of the Isro's future programmes. The agency is currently in the stage of "critical technology development" for the human spaceflight mission, he said.

"The crew module re-entry exercise was done last year. Activities such as development of environment control system, maintenance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, contingencies such as extricating the astronauts in case such a need arises are on. These are critical technology requirement activities in the research and development, he said.

The Isro chairman said the future of the manned programme would depend on government clearance for it. "Of course, the government has to give its clearance. Lots of investment is required for it," he said.

Kumar said space tourism as a concept is catching up fast globally. Just like the sequence of development in shipping industry and aircraft industry, space tourism and space adventure would be natural development process in the future space technology. One of the key Isro activities would be to help industries in the country build up the capacity for such future, he said.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 08 Nov 2015 23:02

^I think they are building capability slowly. Everything depends on successful launch of the GSLV Mark 3 which will be the carrier vehicle. Probably they do not want to make a promise and then backtrack till they acquire core technology.

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 09 Nov 2015 04:44

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 09 Nov 2015 20:44

^
Very nice presentation, goes well with ISRO's own documentary film on Astrosat. Just thinking how unique and sophisticated this satellite is. Very, very few countries can even produce something like it- the US, Russia and France. Even China and Japan, with their more developed programmes and longer experience in building and launching satellites, have nothing like it. And forget other countries, including burgeoning space powers, 3 or 4 of them, they are nowhere near building something as novel and complex like Astrosat. A real round of applause is in order.

manish singh · Post by **manish singh** » 10 Nov 2015 01:24

Here's India's Mission To Mars Documentary By National Geographic:

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 10 Nov 2015 13:18

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/science/news/is ... day-763597

Isro's GSAT-15 Satellite Readied for Launch on Wednesday Indo-Asian News Service , 10 November 2015
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European space agency Arianespace is gearing up for the Tuesday evening launch of Indian communication satellite GSAT-15 and Arabsat-6B through its rocket Ariane 5 from the spaceport in French Guiana, the space agency said.

In a statement issued early Tuesday, Arianespace said it has delivered another Ariane 5 rocket to the launch zone at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.

On Monday, the rocket rolled out from the launcher final assembly building to the launch pad and is scheduled for lift off during a 43-minute window that opens on November 10 at 6.34pm local time in French Guiana.

The rocket is scheduled to blast-off between 3.04am and 3.47am on November 11 as per Indian time.

The Indian satellite GSAT-15 is designed to deliver telecommunications services, along with dedicated navigation-aid and emergency services.

Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), it will be the 19th payload launched by Arianespace for this customer - which is one of the world's six largest space agencies.

The Indian satellite with a design life of 12 years will have 24 Ku-band transponders (automatic receivers and transmitters of radio signals) and two GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) transponders.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 10 Nov 2015 17:51

GSAT-15 Launch -Live telecast by DD National is available from 02:30 Hrs IST, Nov. 11, 2015 - See more at: http://www.isro.gov.in/update/10-nov-20 ... lNqP8.dpuf

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 11 Nov 2015 02:54

^
It should have been launched by now, since it is 0350hrs IST at this moment. Even with the revised launch time of 0304hrs. Any update?

Update: it's been successfully launched! But no webcast from ISRO's site.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 Nov 2015 05:34

Varoon Shekhar wrote:^
It should have been launched by now, since it is 0350hrs IST at this moment. Even with the revised launch time of 0304hrs. Any update?

Update: it's been successfully launched! But no webcast from ISRO's site.

I am surprised they launched anything. the whole South Indian peninsula is covered with clouds from an ongoing cyclonic storm that has brought continuous rain to Bangalore for the last 3 days

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Nov 2015 05:43

It was launched. I retweeted the announcement from ISRO.

shiv, Launch is by Arianespace not from Sriharikota.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 Nov 2015 06:12

ramana wrote:It was launched. I retweeted the announcement from ISRO.

shiv, Launch is by Arianespace not from Sriharikota.

I just checked the map and it appears that French Guyana is nowhere near the Indian peninsula. Makes me sad and angry

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 11 Nov 2015 06:37

This is the official announcement
http://www.isro.gov.in/update/11-nov-20 ... ccessfully

GSAT-15, India’s latest communications satellite, was launched successfully by the European Ariane 5 VA-227 launch Vehicle in the early morning hours of today (November 11, 2015). The 3164 kg GSAT-15 carries communication transponders in Ku-band as well as a GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands.

After a smooth countdown lasting 11 hours and 30 minutes, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle lifted off right on schedule at 0304 hrs (3:04 am) IST today. After a flight of 43 minutes and 24 seconds, GSAT-15 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,819 km, inclined at an angle of 3.9 degree to the equator. The achieved orbit was very close to the intended one.

ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT-15 immediately after its separation from the launch vehicle. Preliminary health checks of the satellite revealed its normal health.

In the coming days, orbit raising manoeuvres will be performed to place the satellite in the Geostationary Orbit (36,000 km above the equator) by using the satellite’s propulsion system in steps.

After the completion of orbit raising operations, the two solar arrays and both the antenna reflectors of GSAT-15 will be deployed. Following this, the satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration. GSAT-15 will be positioned at 93.5 deg East longitude in the geostationary orbit along with the operational INSAT-3A and INSAT-4B satellites. Later, it is planned to experimentally turn on the communication payloads of GSAT-15. After the successful completion of all the in-orbit tests, GSAT-15 will be ready for operational use.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 11 Nov 2015 06:48

https://t.co/HQUgaj5m0k

[youtube]https://t.co/HQUgaj5m0k[/youtube]

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 11 Nov 2015 10:50

Arianespace will launch two communication satellites for India in 2016 and 2017

NEW DELHI, November 11 - RIA Novosti. The European Space Agency Arianespace will launch two satellites for India due GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 in 2016 and 2017, according to a press release on the website of the organization.

"Our 34-year partnership between Arianespace and ISRO has received a new impetus with the signing of a contract for the launch of GSAT-17 and GSAT-18. On the day when we successfully launched GSAT-15, which became the 19th launch for ISRO, we are honored to be newly elected ISRO to launch GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 ", - quotes the head of the press release Arianespace Stephen Izrael.

Both satellites will be launched from Kourou in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 rocket.

Satellite weighing 3,400 kilograms, each designed and manufactured by Indian Space Research Organization. It is planned that they will replace the already operating satellite C-band and Ku.

Picklu · Post by **Picklu** » 11 Nov 2015 13:15

Wow, the booster separation video from ground itself is beautiful.

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 11 Nov 2015 14:21

Austin wrote:Arianespace will launch two communication satellites for India in 2016 and 2017

Satellite weighing 3,400 kilograms, each designed and manufactured by Indian Space Research Organization. It is planned that they will replace the already operating satellite C-band and Ku.

Why? 3,400kg should be well within the GLSV Mk3's ambit. Instead of focusing on putting a human in space, I'd rather see ISRO aim at dominating the satellite launch business.

member_23694 · Post by **member_23694** » 11 Nov 2015 15:04

Viv S wrote:Why? 3,400kg should be well within the GLSV Mk3's ambit. Instead of focusing on putting a human in space, I'd rather see ISRO aim at dominating the satellite launch business.

MK3 D1 will carry GSAT 19E - 3.5 tonnes. Another 2 successful flight after that and goodbye Ariane.

Comer · Post by **Comer** » 11 Nov 2015 16:49

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/ ... its-yours/

On Tuesday evening Congress took a key step toward encouraging the development of this industry by passing on H.R. 2262, the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, with bipartisan support. The legislation provides a number of pro-business measures, such as establishing legal rights for US citizens to own resources in outer space as well as extending indemnification for commercial launches through 2025.

Not sure what's the international laws on this. We need to enact similar laws and encourage private players as well. It's going to be the new race.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 11 Nov 2015 22:11

There is already an international treaty wrt space. Any local laws have to be within those agreements and I doubt anything would be contravened.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 12 Nov 2015 07:51

prasannasimha wrote:There is already an international treaty wrt space. Any local laws have to be within those agreements and I doubt anything would be contravened.

It's the asteroids. Untold riches await us there. And we don't have to devastate the Mother Earth to get them.

http://spacenews.com/u-s-senate-passes- ... pace-bill/

The final bill also includes a revised version of space resource property rights language included in the House bill. The bill states that any U.S. citizen “shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained,” including the ability to own or sell that resource. The bill, though, specifically excludes ownership of asteroids themselves, which would violate international treaties.

While the final bill is not as far reaching in space resource rights as the original bill, which included language allowing for legal action to block “harmful interference” from obtaining such resources, companies with long-term asteroid mining plans welcomed the bill. “We are pleased to see the beginnings of legal clarity in the field of space resource utilization,” said Rick Tumlinson, chairman of Deep Space Industries, in a Nov. 10 statement.

“We are proud to have the support of Congress,” said Chris Lewicki, president of Planetary Resources, in a separate statement. “H.R. 2262 fuels a new economy that will open many avenues for the continual growth and prosperity of humanity.”

The bill now goes back to the House for final passage. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who sponsored the original House version of the bill, said in a Nov. 10 statement that he planned to schedule final approval of the bill “as soon as possible” after the House returns from break Nov. 16.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 12 Nov 2015 19:04

First orbit raising operation of GSAT-15 was successfully completed by firing the Apogee Motor for 5409 seconds at 04:52hr IST on Nov 12, 2015. Realised orbit is 13,114 km (perigee height) by 35,767 km ( apogee height) with an inclination of 1.12 degree and orbital period of 14 hr 57 min

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 14 Nov 2015 18:17

ISROVerified account
‏@isro
3rd orbit raising operation of GSAT-15 was successfully completed by firing the Apogee Motor for 433.5 s at 09:10 hr IST on Nov 14, 2015.

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 15 Nov 2015 07:35

The sun shines on India's Aditya

The project costs approximately Rs 400 crores and is a joint venture between ISRO and physicists from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru; Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, and other institutes.

Though the project was conceptualised in 2008 itself, it has since morphed and grown and is now awaiting clearance with the government. It now aims to put a heavy satellite into what is called a halo orbit around the L1 point between the Sun and the Earth. This point is at a distance of about 1.5 million km from the earth. With the excitement about the Mars Orbiter Mission yet to settle down, this could be the next most complicated feat that ISRO has carried out till date.

In a three-body problem such as this – with the earth and sun engaged in an elliptical orbit and a relatively very light, call it massless in comparison, satellite being placed in between – there are five so-called lagrangian points in space where the light, third body — in our case, the satellite — may be placed so that it can maintain its position with respect to the two others. One of these is the L1 point, which is about 1.5 million km from the earth.

A halo orbit would be a circular orbit around the L1 point. The satellite will have to use its own power (spend energy) to remain in position within in this orbit without losing its way. Such orbits have not been attempted too often.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 15 Nov 2015 11:54

"Approval" ? I thought the project was pretty advanced by now, by the wording in the article, it sounds like it hasn't gotten off the ground.
This must be some inaccurate reporting, right?

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 15 Nov 2015 11:55

GSAT-15 Update: North solar array has been deployed successfully at 16:30 hrs IST. East antenna has been deployed successfully at 17:45 hrs IST.