Bangalore: Indian scientists on September 13 successfully completed first orbit
raising manoeuvre of METSAT, and all the systems on board the country's first
exclusive meteorological satellite are functioning normally, the space agency said.
The liquid apogee motor (LAM) on board the METSAT, launched by PSLV-C4 from
Sriharikota on September 12, was successfully fired for 31 minutes, 48 seconds by
commanding the spacecraft from the Master Control Facility at Hassan, according to
Indian Space Research Organisation.
"With this first manoeuvre, METSAT is now orbiting the earth with a perigee (nearest
point to earth) of 12,100 km and an apogee (farthest point to earth) of 34,500 km",
the Bangalore-headquarterd ISRO said in a statement.
The inclination of the orbit has been reduced from 17.67 degree at the time of
injection to five degree. The orbital period is now 14 hours, 10 minutes. The
orbital manoeuvre conducted on September 13 was highly successful and the intended
intermediate orbit has been precisely realised, ISRO said.
ISRO said a few more orbital manoeuvres would be required before the spacecraft is
finally placed in geo-stationary orbit and moved to its designated slot at 74 degree
East longitude in that orbit.
The operations are likely to be completed in the next few days, it said, adding, all
the systems on board the spacecraft are functioning normally.
PTI
