5 things to know about ISRO's GSAT-7A communication satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the GSAT-7A communication satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh today. GSAT-7A satellite will be the space agency's last mission for this year. The GSLV-F11 will be injecting GSAT-7A into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), according to ISRO. GSLV-F11 is ISRO's fourth generation launch vehicle with three stages.

"GSLV F11 is Isro's fourth generation launch vehicle with three stages. The four-liquid strap-ons and a solid rocket motor at the core form the first stage. The second stage is equipped with high thrust engine using liquid fuel. The Cryogenic Upper Stage forms the third and final stage of the vehicle," the space agency said on its website.

Update #4#GSAT7A#GSLVF11

Propellant filling for 2nd stage has begun. Updates to follow. #ISROMissions pic.twitter.com/eSYfIG0q4v

— ISRO (@isro) December 18, 2018

Update #2#GSAT7A#GSLVF11

The countdown for the launch of communication satellite GSAT-7A on-board GSLV-F11 will begin at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota tomorrow. Launch scheduled on 19 December. Updates to follow. #ISROMissions pic.twitter.com/BEIs9EUfXC

— ISRO (@isro) December 17, 2018

GSAT-7A satellite: 5 Things to know

1. GSAT-7A has been built exclusively for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army and will add to the forces' communication capabilities. This along with the earlier launched GSAT-7 and GSAT-6 will form the band of a communications satellite for use of the security forces.

2. GSAT-7A weighs 2,250-kg and will be launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk II. The GSAT-7A is expected to have the Ku-band transponders and two deployable solar arrays onboard. 

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3. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk II is powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine and is the rocket is almost 50 meters high.

4. The GSAT-7A will also help Navy in the drone operations and will help them reduce the reliance on on-ground control stations and take satellite-control of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). 

5. The GSLV-Mk II rocket will launch the satellite into the temporary orbit after a flight of nearly 20 minutes.

The GSLV-Mk II rocket will launch the satellite into the temporary orbit after a flight of nearly 20 minutes. The rocket will be taken into the geostationary or circular orbit using the onboard propulsion system and it will take few days after the separation from the launcher to reach its orbital slot. 

This year, the ISRO launched GSAT-11 on December 5 on a European vehicle from French Guinea's Kourou, GSAT-29 on November 14 on its GSLV-MkIII vehicle and the ill-fated GSAT-6A on March 29 from Sriharikota. The launch of Chandrayaan-2 and the PSLV-C44 remote-sensing satellite launch are among the seven missions lined up in 2019.