Another big event for India's space programme.
On Saturday at 9 a.m. (IST) an advanced communication satellite HYLAS (Highly Adaptable Satellite),
built by ISRO in partnership with EADS-Astrium of Europe, was successfully launched by the European Ariane-5 rocket. The launch took place from the Guyana Space Centre at Kourou in French
Guyana.
As the rocket thundered off the launch pad, the space scientists broke into an applause. And 35 minutes after its lift-off, HYLAS separated from the rocket after reaching the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
According to Isro officials, the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka successfully received radio signals transmitted by HYLAS which indicated that the satellite's health is
normal.
HYLAS satellite developed for Avanti Communications, UK consists of ten
high power transponders that use eight in Ka and two in Ku band frequencies. The satellite is designed to deliver high-speed broadband services through its spot beams over Europe.
The contract for building of satellite was won in the year 2006 after competing along other leading manufacturers of USA and Europe.
Astrium had the responsibility for overall program management and delivery
of the communications payload and Antrix/ISRO provided the satellite bus
and also performed the satellite integration and testing at ISRO's
facility in Bangalore.
HYLAS satellite weighing 2541 kg at lift-off is
the heaviest satellite built by ISRO for I-2K bus capable of operating for
over 15 years mission life as demanded by the customer. The satellite's
solar panels generate a maximum of about 3200 Watts of power.
Antrix/ISRO is also responsible for the post launch operations of HYLAS,
which are being conducted from the Master Control Facility, Hassan. The
operations include firing of the satellite's Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) in
three phases to place the satellite in geostationary orbit. The first
firing of LAM is scheduled for the early hours of November 28, 2010.
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