ISRO shares visuals from cameras on GSLV-F11 of GSAT-7A launch, release into orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released a short video with camera footage of its most recent satellite launch mission, the **GSLV-F11/GSAT-7A mission** , which successfully placed a military communication satellite for the Indian Air Force in orbit on 19 November. The video begins with sights of the GLSV’s “perfect” lift-off from Sriharikota, captured by optical and infrared cameras till the final (cryogenic engine) stage fires up, and cruises to take GSAT-7A to Earth’s geo-transfer orbit. The second half of the video shows the same events captured using different cameras fitted to the GSLV rocket’s different stages. We see glimpses of the first stage, a thin separator between the first and second stages, and the GSLV’s second stage fall off one after another from the GSLV with a beautiful view of Earth in the far distance.

As the GSLV tears through the Earth’s atmosphere at roaring speeds, we also see the heat shield and payload fairing detach from the rocket, and the third and final stage of the GSLV detach and drift away carried by the cryogenic engine. In the last few seconds of the video, the GSAT-7A satellite is also visible separating from the cryogenic engine stage. GSAT-7A is a 2.25-ton military communications satellite built for the Indian Air Force. It is also the 35th Indian communication satellite built by ISRO. On 20 December, ISRO began the first of its many orbital manoeuvres using thrusters on the GSAT-7A to raise the satellite to its final orbit above Earth.

The first orbit raising manoeuver of #GSAT7A satellite has been successfully carried out today by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor engine for a duration of 3895 seconds.#ISROMissions

— ISRO (@isro) December 20, 2018

GSAT-7A/GSLV-F11 mission: All you need to know

ISRO successfully sent GSAT-7A, a military communication satellite, to orbit on the GSLV-F11 rocket on 19 December. In a 20-minute launch sequence, the GSLV-F11 lifted off from the First Launch Pad (FLP) in Sriharikota and released the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit at a 270 kilometre-altitude. The satellite is expected to substantially boost the communication systems of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which will be the sole user of GSAT-7A’s communication capabilities. It is designed to help interlink the Air Force’s ground radar stations, bases and airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. It will also be used to operate the Indian Army’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and drone operations. With a successful GSAT-7A/GSLV-F11 mission, ISRO has completed three successful launches in 35 days. Not, the final part of the mission — orbit raising and final adjustments is in progress, which the mission tracing team in Bengaluru will complete in a few days.