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newskey lift-offWith the launch of the GSAT-12 satellite, India’s space programme andcommunication services mark another milestonewomen power in satellite projectThe PSLV-C17 rocket taking off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre,Sriharikota, on July 15.with this satellite successfullylaunched, india has added 12more communication transpondersto its space-based networku T.K. Anuradha, the first woman ever to be the satellite project director at the country'sspace agency, specialises in satellite checkout systems — electronic checking of asatellite’s performance in space.u The other two women are Promodha Hegde, mission director GSAT-12, andAnuradha, operations director for GSAT-12.india reached another milestonein its space programmeon the evening ofJuly 15, successfully launchinga heavy-duty rocket thatplaced a major communicationssatellite in space.The launch took place under acloudy sky, with the `950 millionrocket PSLV-C17 (Polar SatelliteLaunch Vehicle) — measuring44 metres in height, and weighing320 tonnes — soaring intospace with a roar. The PSLVwhich blasted off successfullyfrom the spaceport at Sriharikota(India’s space launch site) carrieda 410 kg GSAT-12 satellite witha life span of about seven years.With this satellite, India added12 more communicationtransponders to its space-basednetwork.A beaming Indian Space ResearchOrganisation (ISRO) chiefK. Radhakrishnan informed reportersof the mission’ssuccess after the 4.48 p.m.launch. Around 20 minutesafter the blast-off, therocket achieved its missionby placing this latest Indiancommunication satellite inthe intended sub geo-synchronoustransfer orbit fromwhere the satellite would bemoved to its final geo-synchronousorbit by firing the on-board motors.Immediately after satelliteejection, ISRO with its network ofground stations monitored itshealth.The GSAT-12 satellite would beuseful for various communicationservices like tele-education, telemedicineand for village resourcecentres, Radhakrishnan said. TheGSAT-12 satellite is also expectedto serve the Very Small ApertureTerminal (V-SAT) sector. VSATsare used to transmit data likepoint of sale transactions or toprovide satellite internet access.The satellite will also augmenttransponder capacity of theIndian National Satellite (Insat)system which at presentcomprises eight satellitesGsat-12 satelliteu The `80 crore satellite has 12extended C-band transponders —automatic receivers and transmittersfor communication and broadcast ofsignalsu Would serve the Very Small ApertureTerminal (V-SAT) sector used totransmit data like point of saletransactions or to provide satelliteinternet accessu Useful for various communicationservices like tele-education, tele-medicineand for village resource centresu Will augment transponder capacity ofthe Indian National Satellite system8 Pravasi Bharatiya July 2011