Isro successfully conducts third orbit raising of GSAT-14

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has successfully conducted the Third Orbit Raising Manoeuvre on GSAT-14. Isro's Master Control Facility, Hassan, Bangalore conducted the Maneuver on Thursday.

The initial data shows the orbit of GSAT-14 as 35,462 km (Perigee) by 35, 741 km Apogee with 0.25 degree inclination, said Isro.

After conducting the first GSLV-D5 Orbit raising maneuver on Monday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully completed the second round of maneuver on Tuesday.

The orbit raising operations was conducted for the communication satellite GSAT-14, which was launched successfully launched through GSLV-D5 rocket, which used India's first indigenous cryogenic engine.

Today's orbit raising was to place the satellite in geostationary orbit.

On December 5,  Isro successfully launched it's heavy-duty rocket - the Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch vehicle (GSLV). The GSLV-5, carrying communication satellite GSAT-14 was launched from Isro’s spaceport at Sriharikota, about 80 kms from Chennai.

With the successful launch India joined the “Cryo Club”, a select club of spacefaring nations having the crucial cryogenic engine technology, which is necessary to carry heavy satellites up into space. The other countries include United States, Russia, France, Japan and China in the elite club.

After a flight of 17 minutes 5 seconds, GSAT-14 satellite was precisely injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a Perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 175 km and an Apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,945 km with an orbital inclination of 19.3 degree with respect to the equator.

Immediately after the injection, ISRO's Master Control Facility at Hassan took over the control and commanding of GSAT-14. The solar panels of the satellite were deployed as planned, the satellite health was found normal and the satellite was oriented towards the Sun.