The communication satellite CMS-01, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 14, has been placed in its final circular orbit of about 36,000 kilometres after orbit raising maneuvers.
CMS-01 is India’s 42nd communication satellite and will replace the functions of GSAT-12 that was launched in 2011 and will remain in orbit for more than seven years, providing connectivity for e-learning, tele-health and disaster management services.
Four days after the launch, the onboard liquid apogee motor was fired a few times to increase the orbit to a final, geosynchronous one. A geosynchronous orbit matches the Earth’s rotation and is used by satellites for weather monitoring, communications, and surveillance.
After on-orbit testing, the satellite will be handed over to the users of communication services during the first week of January 2021.
“After the injection of CMS-01 communication satellite into an elliptical sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit on December 17, 2020, all orbit raising maneuvers have been completed successfully. The satellite reflector has been deployed. All the intended launch and early phase operations are completed successfully,” said ISRO in a statement.
Article source: Hindustan Times