GSAT-6A

GSAT-6A was an Indian communications satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to enhance mobile communication capabilities across the Indian subcontinent. It was designed as a follow-on mission to GSAT-6, with a strong focus on strategic and secure communications, including support for mobile users and defense applications.

The satellite was launched on March 29, 2018, aboard a GSLV-F08 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, India. It was successfully placed into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

GSAT-6A was based on ISRO’s I-2K satellite bus and carried S-band communication payloads, along with a large deployable unfurlable antenna (approximately 6 meters in diameter). This antenna enabled high-power mobile communication services, making it particularly suitable for handheld and portable terminals.

Key features and capabilities include:

• S-band payload for mobile communication services
• Large deployable antenna for wide-area coverage and stronger signal strength
• Support for strategic, defense, and emergency communication networks
• Designed to complement and extend the capabilities of GSAT-6

Shortly after launch, communication was successfully established, and initial orbit-raising maneuvers were performed. However, contact with the satellite was lost on April 1, 2018, before it could be fully placed into its final geostationary orbit. As a result, the mission did not become operational.

Despite the loss, GSAT-6A represented an important step in advancing India’s high-power mobile satellite communication technology, particularly in the use of large deployable antennas and secure communication systems.