View source for Engineering:GSAT-7A

{{short description|Military communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight|auto=all
| name                  = GSAT-7A
| image                 = GSAT-7A_in_delpoyed_configuration.png
| image_size            = 300px
| image_caption         =

| mission_type          = [[Astronomy:Communications satellite|Communications]]
| operator              = {{wipe|Indian Air Force}} <br /> Indian Army<ref name="7a-iaf-ia">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-to-launch-gsat-7a-tomorrow-communication-satellite-to-give-more-power-to-forces/story-KRkEADhNeSYgFXE42fUrqK.html|title=Isro to launch GSAT-7A tomorrow, communication satellite to give more power to forces|date=18 December 2018 |publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref>
| website               = 
| COSPAR_ID             = 
| SATCAT                = 
| mission_duration      = Planned: 8 years<br /> Elapsed: {{time interval|19 December 2018|show=ymd|sep=,}}

| spacecraft_bus        = [[Engineering:I-2K|I-2K]]
| manufacturer          = [[Astronomy:Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre|ISRO Satellite Centre]]<br>[[Astronomy:Space Applications Centre|Space Applications Centre]]
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = {{convert|2250|kg}} 
| power                 = 3.3 kilowatts<ref name="7a-brochure">{{cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/gslv-f11-gsat-7a-mission/launch-kit|title=GSLV-F11 GSAT-7A Launch Kit|publisher=ISRO|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=2018-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211172631/https://www.isro.gov.in/gslv-f11-gsat-7a-mission/launch-kit|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
| dimensions            =

| launch_date           = 19 December 2018<br>10:40 UTC<ref name="GSLV_F11_PR">{{cite news |title=GSLV-F11 successfully launches GSAT-7A |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186622 |access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
| launch_rocket         = [[Engineering:Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle|GSLV Mk.II]] F11
| launch_site           = [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Satish Dhawan]] [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|SLP]]
| launch_contractor     = [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]]
| entered_service       =

| disposal_type         =
| deactivated           =

| orbit_epoch           = 
| orbit_reference       = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|Geostationary]]
| orbit_slot            = 63°E<ref>{{cite web |title=Specifications for 11m Ku‐Band Full Motion Antenna Systems |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/all_0.pdf |website=ISRO.gov.in |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720125614/https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/all_0.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2019 |page=10}}</ref>
| orbit_periapsis       = 
| orbit_apoapsis        = 
| orbit_inclination     = 
| orbit_semimajor       = 
| orbit_eccentricity    =
| orbit_period          = 
| orbit_RAAN            = 
| orbit_arg_periapsis   = 
| orbit_mean_anomaly    = 
| orbit_mean_motion     = 
| orbit_rev_number      = 
| apsis                 =

| trans_band            = [[Astronomy:Ku band|Ku band]]
| trans_frequency       =
| trans_bandwidth       =
| trans_capacity        =
| trans_coverage        = India
| trans_TWTA            =
| trans_EIRP            =
| trans_HPBW            =
| programme             = [[Engineering:GSAT|GSAT]]
| previous_mission      = [[Engineering:GSAT-11|GSAT-11]]
| next_mission          = [[Engineering:GSAT-31|GSAT-31]]
}}

'''GSAT-7A''' is an advanced [[Engineering:Military satellite|military communications satellite]] meant primarily for the {{wipe|Indian Air Force}} with Indian Army using 30% of capacity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isros-gsat-7a-to-add-more-heft-to-air-force/article25758707.ece|title=ISRO's GSAT-7A to add more heft to Air Force|last=D.s|first=Madhumathi|date=2018-12-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-12-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Overview==
GSAT-7A allows [[Organization:Integrated Space Cell|IAF to interlink]] different ground radar stations, ground airbase,  aircraft to aircraft [[Real-time Control System]], [[Engineering:Airborne early warning and control|Airborne early warning and control (AWACS)]] aircraft such as [[Engineering:Beriev A-50|Beriev A-50]] Phalcon and DRDO AEW&CS. The satellite enhances [[Network-centric warfare|Network-centric warfare capabilities]] of the Indian Air Force and its global operations.<ref name=ku1/><ref name=howmany/> The satellite is also used by Indian Army's Aviation Corps for real-time control and communication of its aviation operations.<ref name="7a-iaf-ia"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.defensenews.com/article/20130910/DEFREG03/309100007/India-s-Tech-Roadmap-Points-Small-Sats-Space-Weapons|title=India's Tech Roadmap Points to Small Sats, Space Weapons|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150121220451/http://archive.defensenews.com/article/20130910/DEFREG03/309100007/India-s-Tech-Roadmap-Points-Small-Sats-Space-Weapons|archive-date=2015-01-21|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/iaf-to-induct-214-fifth-generation-fighter-jets/189940-3.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006000407/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/iaf-to-induct-214-fifth-generation-fighter-jets/189940-3.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2011-10-06|title = IAF to induct 214 fifth generation fighter jets}}</ref> India is in the [[Engineering:General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper#India|process of acquiring]] high-altitude and long endurance satellite-controlled UAVs, such as American armed [[Engineering:General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper#SkyGuardian|Predator-B]] or [[Engineering:General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper#SkyGuardian|Sea Guardian]] drones, that can fire at enemy targets from long distances.<ref name=howmany/>

As of December 2018, there are 320 dual use or dedicated [[Engineering:Military satellite|military satellite]] in the sky, half of which are owned by the United States, followed by Russia, China and India (14).<ref name=howmany>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-isros-gsat-7a-launch-is-important-for-iaf/articleshow/67153347.cms Why Isro's Gsat-7A launch is important for the Indian Air Force], Times of India, 19 Dec 2018.</ref> To boost its network-centric operations, the IAF is also likely to get another satellite GSAT-7C within a few years.<ref name=howmany/>

The GSAT-7A, with a mission life of 8 years, is also equipped with the [[Engineering:Payload|payload]] of 10 [[Astronomy:Ku band|Ku band]] transponders,<ref name=ku1>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/dec/20/chandrayaan-2-on-track-32-missions-next-year-isro-1914082.html Chandrayaan-2 on track, 32 missions next year: ISRO], Indian Express, 20 Dec 2018.</ref> which offers [[Astronomy:Ku band#Advantages|several advantages]] over c-band, such more powerful [[Engineering:Telecommunications link|satellite uplink and downlink signals]], [[Astronomy:Satellite dish|smaller antennas]], and [[Physics:Interference (communication)|non-interference of communication signals]] with [[Astronomy:Earth|terrestrial]] [[Engineering:Microwave transmission|microwave systems]].

Payload:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sac.gov.in/SACSITE/SAC%20Annual%20Report/SAC_Annual_Report_2014-2015.pdf|title=Space Applications Centre, Annual Report 2014-15|website=SAC|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707235721/http://sac.gov.in/SACSITE/SAC%20Annual%20Report/SAC_Annual_Report_2014-2015.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2017|access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186622|title=GSLV-F11 successfully launches GSAT-7A|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2019-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/monthlysummarydos-092018.pdf|title=Department of Space Monthly Summary, September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027003529/https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/monthlysummarydos-092018.pdf|archive-date=27 October 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

* 10 channels in [[Astronomy:Ku band|Ku band]] with switchable frequency for mobile users.
* Four steerable antennas
* One fixed [[Astronomy:Parabolic antenna|Gregorian Antenna]].

==Launch==
GSAT-7A weighing {{Convert|2250|kg|lbs}} was successfully launched on 19 December 2018 by GSLV Mk II F11 rocket from [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|Second Launch Pad]] of [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Satish Dhawan Space Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2013/9-26-2013-G-Shivanna.asp |title=Customer profile: ISRO GSAT-7/7A Project Director G. Shivanna |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100013/http://arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2013/9-26-2013-G-Shivanna.asp |archive-date=2015-04-02 }}</ref> This three-stage launch vehicle 51 meters tall, has a lift-off mass of about 421 tonnes and indigenously developed [[Physics:Cryogenic fuel|cryogenic]] stage.<ref name=ku1/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/12/19/indian-space-program-closes-out-year-with-launch-of-upgraded-gslv/|title=Indian space program closes out year with launch of upgraded GSLV – Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Organization:Integrated Space Cell#Military|Indian military satellites]]
* [[Engineering:GSAT-7|GSAT-7]]
* [[Engineering:GSAT|GSAT]]
* [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|Indian National Satellite System]]
* [[Organization:Integrated Space Cell|Integrated Space Cell]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Indian satellites|List of Indian satellites]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{GSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}

[[Category:GSAT satellites]]



{{Sourceattribution|GSAT-7A}}