Sunil Tani at 06:17, 19 May 2025

2025-05-19T06:17:10Z

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{{short description|Indian communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = GSAT-5P
| image =
| image_caption =

| mission_type = [[Communications satellite|Communication]]
| operator = [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]
| website =
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT =
| mission_duration = 12-14 years (planned)<br/>Failed to orbit

| spacecraft_bus = [[I-2K]]
| manufacturer = [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|2310|kg}}
| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|25 December 2010, 10:34|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle|GSLV Mk.I]] F06
| launch_site = [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Satish Dhawan]] [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|SLP]]
| launch_contractor =

| orbit_epoch = Planned
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Geostationary orbit|Geostationary]]
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination =
| orbit_period =
| orbit_longitude = 55° East
| orbit_slot =
| apsis = gee

| trans_band = {{nowrap|36 [[G band (NATO)|G]]/[[H band (NATO)|H band]] (IEEE [[C band (IEEE)|C band]])}}
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_EIRP =
| trans_HPBW =
| programme = [[GSAT]]
| previous_mission = [[GSAT-4]]
| next_mission = [[GSAT-8]]
}}
'''GSAT-5P''', or '''GSAT-5 Prime''', was an Indian [[communications satellite]] which was lost in a launch failure in December 2010. Part of the [[Indian National Satellite System]], it was intended to operate in [[geosynchronous orbit]] as a replacement for [[INSAT-3E]].

==Satellite==
GSAT-5P was a {{convert|2310|kg|adj=on}} spacecraft, which was built by the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] based on the [[I-2K]] [[satellite bus]].<ref name="GSP">{{cite web|last=Krebs|first=Gunter|title=GSAT 5P|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/gsat-5p.htm|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=25 December 2010}}</ref> ISRO also launched the satellite, and was to have been responsible for its operation. It was equipped with 36 [[transponder]]s operating in the [[G band (NATO)|G]]/[[H band (NATO)|H band]] of the [[NATO]]-defined spectrum, or the [[C band (IEEE)|C band]] of the older [[IEEE]] spectrum. Twelve of the transponders operated on extended frequencies within the band.<ref>{{cite web|title=Countdown starts for GSAT-5P launch|url=http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/national/138504/|publisher=IndiaVision|access-date=25 December 2010|date=24 December 2010}}</ref> GSAT-5P was expected to operate for at least 12 years, and would have been placed at a [[longitude]] of 55 degrees east.<ref name="SFN"/>

==Launch==
The launch of GSAT-5P used a [[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle]] Mk.I,<ref name="GSP"/> [[serial number]] F06, and took place from the [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|Second Launch Pad]] at the [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]. The rocket featured several modifications from previous flights, including an enlarged upper stage with more fuel to accommodate a heavier payload, and an enlarged [[composite material|composite]] [[payload fairing]] with a diameter of {{convert|4|m}} in place of the regular {{convert|3.4|m}} [[aluminium]] fairing.<ref name="SFN">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Indian rocket fails moments after liftoff|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1012/25gslv/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=25 December 2010|date=25 December 2010}}</ref>

The launch was originally scheduled for 20 December 2010, but was delayed to allow a leaking valve on the upper stage to be repaired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Launch of GSLV-F06 / GSAT-5P Mission Postponed|url=http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/gslv-f06.pdf|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|access-date=25 December 2010|date=19 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530223258/http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/gslv-f06.pdf|archive-date=30 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the repair of the leak, the launch was rescheduled for 25 December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Launch of GSLV-F06 / GSAT-5P scheduled for Dec 25, 2010|url=http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/GSLV-F06Reschedule.pdf|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|access-date=25 December 2010|date=23 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530212426/http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/GSLV-F06Reschedule.pdf|archive-date=30 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The countdown began 06:34 UTC on 24 December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Countdown commences for the Launch of GSLV-F06 / GSAT-5P|url=http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/GSLV-F06Countdown.pdf|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|access-date=25 December 2010|date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530212659/http://www.isro.org/news/pdf/GSLV-F06Countdown.pdf|archive-date=30 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and launch occurred at 10:34 UTC on 25 December.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boucher|first=Marc|title=India's Launch of GSAT-5P Telecommunications Satellite Fails|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1487|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202202515/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1487|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|publisher=SpaceRef|access-date=25 December 2010|date=25 December 2010}}</ref>

==Failure==
Forty five seconds after launch the four liquid fuelled boosters attached to the first stage ceased responding to commands, resulting in a loss of control. Sixty three seconds into the flight, the [[Range Safety Officer]] activated a [[flight termination system|self-destruct mechanism]] aboard the rocket, causing it to explode.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rocket failed after 45 seconds, says ISRO |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rocket-failed-after-45-seconds-says-ISRO/Article1-642792.aspx |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=25 December 2010 |date=25 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226220924/http://www.hindustantimes.com/rocket-failed-after-45-seconds-says-isro/article1-642792.aspx |archive-date=26 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=GSAT-5P launch fails, satellite vehicle explodes mid-air|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-25/india/28271336_1_gsat-5p-communication-satellite-automatic-receivers-and-transmitters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104071840/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-25/india/28271336_1_gsat-5p-communication-satellite-automatic-receivers-and-transmitters|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|access-date=25 December 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 December 2010}}</ref> Debris from the launch fell into the [[Bay of Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ram|first=Arun|title=Christmas turns sour for ISRO, GSLV mission fails|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-25/india/28235931_1_cryogenic-engine-gslv-gsat-5p|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104071925/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-25/india/28235931_1_cryogenic-engine-gslv-gsat-5p|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|access-date=25 December 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 December 2010}}</ref> It was the second consecutive launch failure involving a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, following the loss of [[GSAT-4]] in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=FAILURE: Indian GSLV fails during launch with GSAT-5P satellite|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/12/indian-gslv-launch-with-gsat-5p-satellite/|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|access-date=25 December 2010|date=25 December 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
*[[2010 in spaceflight]]

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

{{GSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}

[[Category:GSAT satellites]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2010]]
[[Category:Satellite launch failures]]
[[Category:2010 in India]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched by GSLV rockets]]

GSAT-5P - Revision history

Sunil Tani at 06:17, 19 May 2025