| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | ISRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-044B |
| SATCATno. | 39234 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 7 years Elapsed: 12 years, 2 months, 25 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | I-2K |
| Manufacturer | ISRO Space Applications Centre |
| Launch mass | 2,650 kilograms (5,840 lb) |
| Power | 3 kilowatts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 29 August 2013, 20:30 (2013-08-29UTC20:30Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | KourouELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 74° East |
| Perigee altitude | 35,779 kilometres (22,232 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 35,806 kilometres (22,249 mi) |
| Inclination | 0.06 degrees |
| Period | 23.93 hours |
| Epoch | 7 November 2013, 23:12:49 UTC[1] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | UHF C-band Ku-band |
GSAT-7 orINSAT-4F is a multi-band military communications satellite developed byISRO. TheIndian Navy is the user of the multi-band communication spacecraft, which has been operational since September 2013. According to defense experts, the satellite will enable the navy to extend its blue water capabilities and stop relying on foreign satellites likeInmarsat, which provide communication services to its ships.[2][3]
GSAT-7, the multi-band communication satellite namedRukmini[4] carries the payloads inUHF,C band andKu band. It is the first dedicated military communication satellite (unlike earlier dual use satellites) built by ISRO that will provide services to theIndian Armed Forces[5] with the main user being the Indian Navy.[6] Its procured launch cost has been put at₹480crore, with the satellite costing ₹185 crore.[7] Cost of whole project perMemorandum of Understanding with ISRO was₹950 crores.[8]
The multiple-band spacecraft will be used exclusively by the Navy to shore up secure, real-time communications among its warships, submarines, aircraft and land systems. GSAT-7/ INSAT-4F is said to significantly improve the country's naval operations around the world.
GSAT 7 satellite carrying payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a lift-off mass of 2,650 kilograms (5,840 lb) and is based on ISRO's 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) class satellite bus I-2K with some new technological elements, including the antennae.[9] After a flight of almost 34 minutes, the satellite was injected into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) of 249-kilometre (155 mi)perigee, 35,929-kilometre (22,325 mi)apogee and an inclination of 3.5 degree with respect to theequator.[10]
ISRO launched a second satellite,GSAT-7A forIndian Air Force on 19 December 2018 on itsGeosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F11).[11][12]
The satellite was launched early on 30 August 2013 atop anAriane 5 ECA rocket fromKourou,French Guiana.[13]
India's first dedicated military satellite was put into a geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) above Earth, five days after it was launched after three orbit-raising manoeuvres from ISRO'sMaster Control Facility atHassan inKarnataka.[14] The 2.5-tonne spacecraft's antennae, including the ultra high frequency Helix antenna were deployed before it was stabilised on its three-axis in the orbit.[15] All of the on-board transponders were switched on successfully on September 18, 2013[16]
Rukmini will provide networking capabilities to various Indian Naval assets. During the2014 edition of Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise in theBay of Bengal, Rukmini was able to provide a common network about 60 ships and 75 aircraft seamlessly. Rukmini has a nearly 2,000 nautical mile 'footprint' over the Indian Ocean Region.[17]
TheIndian Navy placed an order forGSAT-7R on June 11, 2019. GSAT-7R is expected to eventually replace GSAT-7.[18]
The cost of the Project as per Memorandum of Understanding signed with ISRO is Rs. 950 crores.
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