GSAT-5P
{{short description|Indian communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = GSAT-5P
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = Communication
| operator = ISRO
| website =
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT =
| mission_duration = 12-14 years (planned)
Failed to orbit
| spacecraft_bus = I-2K
| manufacturer = ISRO
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|2310|kg}}
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|25 December 2010, 10:34|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = GSLV Mk.I F06
| launch_site = Satish Dhawan SLP
| launch_contractor =
| orbit_epoch = Planned
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Geostationary
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination =
| orbit_period =
| orbit_longitude = 55° East
| orbit_slot =
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = {{nowrap|36 G/H 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.{{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}} ISRO also launched the satellite, and was to have been responsible for its operation. It was equipped with 36 transponders operating in the G/H band of the NATO-defined spectrum, or the C band of the older IEEE spectrum. Twelve of the transponders operated on extended frequencies within the band.{{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}} GSAT-5P was expected to operate for at least 12 years, and would have been placed at a longitude of 55 degrees east.
Launch
The launch of GSAT-5P used a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.I, serial number F06, and took place from the 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 payload fairing with a diameter of {{convert|4|m}} in place of the regular {{convert|3.4|m}} aluminium fairing.{{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}}
The launch was originally scheduled for 20 December 2010, but was delayed to allow a leaking valve on the upper stage to be repaired.{{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}} Following the repair of the leak, the launch was rescheduled for 25 December 2010.{{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}} The countdown began 06:34 UTC on 24 December 2010.{{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}} and launch occurred at 10:34 UTC on 25 December.{{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}}
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 self-destruct mechanism aboard the rocket, causing it to explode.{{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 }}{{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}} Debris from the launch fell into the Bay of Bengal.{{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}} It was the second consecutive launch failure involving a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, following the loss of GSAT-4 in April 2010.{{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}}
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{GSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2010