GSAT-7 set for launch Friday, to boost maritime security

India's first dedicated satellite for maritime communications will be launched Friday from the European space consortium, Arianespace, from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.

The GSAT-7 is scheduled to be launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA 215 during the 50-minute launch window starting from 2 a.m. Friday, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Developed by ISRO, the Rs.185 crore, state-of-the-art satellite would provide the country with UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band relay capacity over the Indian land mass, Arianespace said in a press release.

The satellite is adapted from India's I-2K spacecraft bus, which also was used for the INSAT-3D satellite -- lofted by Arianespace's most recent Ariane 5 mission July 25, it said.

GSAT-7 has a lift-off mass of 2,625 kg and is based on ISRO's 2,500 kg satellite bus with some new technological elements, including the antennae. Its solar arrays generate 2,900 W of electrical power.

A108 Ampere-Hour Lithium-Ion battery enables the satellite to function during the eclipse period. The propulsion subsystem has a 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and thrusters.

So far, Inmarsat provided the communication services for ships. Now, the country will have its own satellite that experts say would help the Indian Navy that is acquiring Blue Water capabilities.