NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (
Isro) has recalled its “heaviest communication satellite” Gsat-11 from Arianespace’s spaceport in
French Guiana to carry out more tests on the satellite and has rescheduled its launch date. The launch of 5.7 tonne satellite was initially planned on May 25.
Talking to TOI, Isro chairman Dr K Sivan said, “Gsat-11 has been recalled from French Guiana not because of any glitch. We want to carry out more tests on the satellite to ensure its launch is glitch-free.” He said, “Our team in French Guiana is working on modalities to bring the satellite back to India. After all the tests and checks on Gsat-11 in India, we will decide on its next launch date.”
The high-throughput satellite, which carries 40 transponders in the Ku-band and Ka-band frequencies, is capable of “providing high bandwidth connectivity” with up to 14 gigabit per second (GBPS) data transfer speed. The heavy-duty communication satellite is so massive that each solar panel is over four metres long, equivalent to the size of a room.
The satellite is meant to provide multi-spot beam coverage over the Indian mainland and nearby islands, bringing significant advantages to users when compared with the country’s existing INSAT/Gsat satellite systems, says an Arianespace statement.
Isro is taking all precautions for satellite launches especially after the space agency lost communication link with its recently launched satellite Gsat-6A. The agency suspects the failure of the power system in the satellite for the snapping of communication link. On Gsat-6A, the chairman said, “We know the exact location of the satellite from different sources and all efforts to restore the communication link with it are going on.”