Bangalore: In the second manoeuvre, the orbit of India's multi-purpose satellite INSAT-3A was further raised on April 12, with its perigee (closest point to the earth) reaching 32,750 kms from 11,500 kms.

The liquid apogee motor (LAM) on board INSAT-3A was fired for 53 minutes by commanding the satellite from master control facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka at 12 noon (IST) on April 12, an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) statement said.

The apogee (farthest point to the earth) is 36,000 kms and the inclination of the orbit with respect to the equatorial plane has been reduced from 0.9 degree to the present 0.1 degree. INSAT-3A now has an orbital period of 22 hour, 40 minutes. The satellite will now be in the continuous radio visibility of MCF.

INSAT-3A was launched by Ariane-5 of Arianespace on April 10, from Kourou, French Guyana, and the first orbit raising manoeuvre was carried out from MCF on April 11.

The satellite came within the radio visibility of MCF on April 12 morning at 5:50 am (IST), and all the necessary operations like earth acquisition and gyro calibration were carried out before the second orbit raising manoeuvre was started, the statement said.

All systems on board INSAT-3A are functioning normally. Third apogee raising manoeuvre is planned on April 14, it added.

PTI