India’s advanced multi-band communication satellite GSAT-7, launched from Kourou, French Guiana in the early hours of August 30, 2013, has been successfully placed in the Geosynchronous Orbit with an altitude of about 36,000 km above Earth’s surface today (September 3, 2013) morning, after successfully completing the last of the three orbit-raising manoeuvres commanded from ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan. Later in the day, the communication antennae of GSAT-7, including the UHF Helix antenna, were deployed successfully. Following this, GSAT-7 was put in its final orbital configuration, stabilised on its three-axis by the momentum wheels.
The GSAT-7 Satellite would reach its assigned orbital slot of 74 degree East longitude in the Geostationary Orbit within the next 10 days. On September 14, 2013, the communication transponders in UHF, S, C and Ku bands are planned to be switched on.
