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India launches educational satellite using GSLV rocket BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: September 20, 2004 Following two developmental test launches, India's GSLV rocket successfully flew its first operational mission today, boosting into orbit a communications satellite that will be used for interactive educational services in remote locations.
EDUSAT is the first Indian satellite built exclusively for serving educational needs, officials said. "It is mainly intended to meet the demand for an interactive satellite based distance education system for the country. It strongly reflects India's commitment to use space technology for national development, especially for the development of the population in remote and rural locations," ISRO said. "Satellites can establish the connectivity between urban educational institutions with adequate infrastructure imparting quality education and the large number of rural and semi-urban educational institutions that lack the necessary infrastructure. Besides supporting formal education, a satellite system can facilitate the dissemination of knowledge to the rural and remote population about important aspects like health, hygiene and personality development and allow professionals to update their knowledge base as well."
EDUSAT carries five Ku-band transponders providing spot beams that will focus on specific regions, one Ku-band transponder providing a national beam and six extended C-band transponders with national coverage beam. "It is specially configured for audio-visual medium, employing digital interactive classroom and multimedia multicentric system," ISRO said.
The new craft joins India's INSAT system that already has more than 130 transponders in C-band, extended C-band and Ku-band providing a variety of telecommunication and television services, ISRO said. This third overall flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle came after demonstration missions in April 2001 and May 2003. The three-stage rocket uses a solid-fueled core stage, four hypergolic strap-on boosters, a hypergolic second stage and a cryogenic upper stage. |
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