India's heaviest and most powerful communication satellite has been launched on 5 December, 2018 from Ariane-5 rocket of Arianespace, French Guiana. But have you ever thought that why it was not launched from India What are its main features and why it is different from other satellites of India? Let us study through this article
Why GSAT-11 was not launched from India?
ISRO launches a low-volume satellite from PSLV, which has a capacity of about 2 tonnes, but GSAT-11 is launched by French Guiana Arianespace because the GSAT-11 satellite weighs more than 5 tons. India has not been fully self-reliant in launching massive satellite. Moreover, India's agency does not currently have a rocket that is capable of lifting the satellite. At present, maximum 4 tons of satellites can be carried by GSLV Mk-III. That is why the French Arianespace's Ariane-5 rocket has been hired by ISRO to launch GSAT-11 which has a capacity of about 9.1 tons.
Space Center at French Guiana is operational since 1968. Because of two major geographical factors this location is suitable for spaceport:
- It is near the equator, so that less energy is required to be a spacecraft in an equatorial, geostationary orbit, and
- In the east is there an open sea due to which the time of launch failures, lower stages of rockets and debris will not fall on human habitations. Also, launching of Rockets to the east will provide a advantage of the angular momentum provided by Earth's rotation.
Features of GSAT-11
Lift of Mass: 5854 kg
Orbital Location: 74o E
Spacecraft Power: 32 user beams (Ko-band) & 8 Hub beams (Ka-band)
Throughout data rate: 16 Gigabits per second
Mission life: 15 Years
