GSAT 6A has been launched successfully into orbit yesterday through GSLV F08 launch vehicle. GSAT 6A is an advanced S-Band communications satellite to be operating under INSATs communication fleet primarily intended for multi-media mobile applications. The satellite is very similar to GSAT-6 launched in 2015 and has been used for strategic communications by increasing S-band capacity thereby continuing communications into the second half of 2020. GSAT-6A uses I-2K platform, a 6 meter unfurlable antenna reflector for S-band uplink and downlink and a 0.8 meter deployable C-band reflector to carry wide-beam up/downlink.
The six-meter S-Band antenna is the largest in-space deployable launched by ISRO to date, employing a lightweight structure of a perimeter truss segment which can fold-out like a camping chair and offers stability through a series of cross-beams between the two perimeter tiers that hold in place the metal mesh serving as reflective area and supported in a parabolic shape. The S-Band system generates five spot beams over the Indian main land employing the frequency reuse scheme to increase the efficiency of the spectrum utilization. The communications payload of the satellite consists of five 9 MHz C x S-Band transponders generating five S-Band spot beams for downlink while the uplink is carried via C-Band from a hub station in India. Five S x C-Band transponders, each with a bandwidth of 2.7 MHz, receive their uplink in S-Band from mobile user terminals and downlink their communications to ground stations in C-Band. The satellite’s Telemetry & Telecommand system uses a C-Band solution from heritage ISRO programs.
The video below is released by ISRO showcasing the successful launch of GSLV-F08.