Isro successfully completes third orbit raise for GSAT-14

Chennai: The Indian space agency Thursday successfully completed the orbit-raising activity of its communication satellite G-SAT14 for a third time since it was put in orbit 5 January. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the third orbit-raising activity of GSAT-14 was completed, firing the satellite’s onboard motors. [caption id=“attachment_1331317” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The GSLV-D5, carrying a GSAT-14 satellite, blasts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. AFP[/caption] Isro on its Facebook page said that as per initial data, the orbit of GSAT-14 is 35,462 km perigee (nearest point from earth) and 35,741 km apogee (farthest point from earth). The cuboid-shaped Rs 145-crore GSAT-14 is India’s 23rd geostationary satellite built by Isro. It has a life span of 12 years. It carries six extended C-band and Ku-band transponders (receivers and transmitters of signals), and two Ka-band beacons. The satellite will be used for telemedicine and tele-education services. The GSAT-14 was launched 5 January evening from the rocket port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) used to launch this satellite also flight-tested successfully the indigenously developed cryogenic engine. IANS