GSAT-19


GSAT-19 is an Indian communications satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation aboard a GSLV Mark III on 5 June 2017.

Satellite and payloads

The satellite will act as a testbed for the modular I-6K satellite bus, carrying experimental technologies such as ion thrusters for manoeuvring and stabilisation, active thermal control using thermal radiators, a miniaturised inertial reference unit, indigenously produced lithium-ion batteries, and C-band traveling-wave-tube amplifiers.
Rather than traditional transponders, GSAT-19 carries four Ku/Ka-band forward link beams and four Ku/Ka-band return link beams, providing much higher data throughput than India's previous communications satellites. It additionally carries a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer payload, which will "monitor and study the nature of charged particles and the influence of space radiation on satellites and their electronic components".

Orbit raising and station keeping

The satellite was launched aboard the GSLV Mk III-D1 rocket in the evening of 5 June 2017 to a geostationary transfer orbit perigee of. This was followed by a series of orbit raising operations to place the satellite in the intended geostationary orbital slot.