ISRO's Launch of GSAT-7R Communications Satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSAT-7R satellite for the Indian Navy on November 2, with a launch mass of 4,410 kg, making it the heaviest communications satellite launched from Indian soil. The mission utilized the LVM-3 rocket, ISRO's most powerful launch vehicle.

Key Features of India's Communications Satellites

• Wide Coverage and High Power: These satellites are designed to cover the entire country and nearby seas, requiring multiple frequency bands like C (4-8 GHz), Ku (12-18 GHz), and sometimes Ka (27-40 GHz).
• Long Service Life: Designed to operate for 12–15 years with redundancy (duplicate systems) to ensure reliability, which further increases weight.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)

• Orbit and Propulsion: Satellites are initially placed in a GTO by the launch vehicle, then move to their final orbit using their propulsion systems.
• Fuel Requirements: Chemical propulsion systems on Indian satellites require significant fuel for orbit-raising and station-keeping maneuvers over a decade.