The European satellite W2M developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) was successfully placed into earth's orbit on December 21. According to reports, the commercial satellite was put into geosynchronous transfer orbit, about 36,000 km above earth after being launched from Kourou in French Guiana at 4.05 a.m. IST. As per the statement of the ISRO, the scientists at the master control facility of agency are receiving the radio signals from the launched satellite and everything is functioning perfectly.

 

During the launch of the Indian-built European satellite from the Guiana space centre at Kourou, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair and seven other Indian scientists were also present. When asked about the W2M, Nair informed that by the next 12-24 hours the satellite will be placed in the geostationary orbit 16 degrees East from the transfer orbit by repeatedly firing the liquid apogee motor (LAM) on board the spacecraft from MCF.

 

The 3,643 kg communication satellite, W2M was accompanied by Hot Bird 9 broadcasting satellite of Eutelsat which was also deployed in the same orbital slot of 13 degrees East. There are 32 transponders in Ku-band in the W2M satellite while Hot Bird carried 64 transponders in the same band. The high-power transponders will be used for telecommunications and broadcasting services across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

 

ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corp developed the W2M for the Paris-based global satellite communications provider Eutelsat. The heaviest commercial spacecraft is capable of operating for 15 years having solar panels which can generate about 7,000 watts of power. The satellite has the flexibility to operate a wide range of services from television broadcasting to data networks and broadband.