31.8.15

GSAT-6's antenna deployed

India's military communication satellite GSAT-6 crossed a major milestone on Sunday with the deployment of the six metre unfurlable antenna, the largest one made by Isro.It is also the first time that an unfurlable antenna is being used in an Indian communication satellite.
The spacecraft was flown by the three-stage Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to its initial orbit on Thursday .
The antenna will ensure that once the spacecraft is operational, data, video and voice communication with smaller hand held devices will be possible. These devices can be used in the remotest places by the armed forces. Essentially , such a unique antenna will help the military to communicate with each other on secure lines. An Isro official said the process of activating the massive antenna, which weighs around 43 kg, began around 11.30 am.
It was deployed in two stages, with the initial one lasting for about four minutes and the second one for 23 minutes.
On Sunday , the third and final orbit raising manoeuvre of the spacecraft was successfully executed at 7.46 am with the liquid apogee motor being fired for 580.32 seconds.

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