GPS News  
W2M A Big Boost To Indian Space Commerce

Illustration of the W2M communications satellite built by ISRO and EADS-Astrium.
by Staff Writers
Bangalore, India (SPX) Dec 29, 2008
India's space commerce got a big boost on Sunday when the first satellite built by ISRO for a foreign customer was put into its intended orbit after it was launched by the European Ariane-5 rocket fetching a profit of $ 40 million.

The state-of-the-art communications satellite - W2M- built by ISRO on a commercial basis in partnership with EADS-Astrium of Europe was launched at 4.05 a.m. IST from the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou in French Guiana, the ISRO said here on Sunday.

W2M separated from Ariane-5, 32 minutes after its lift-off, and reached its intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Building W2M signalled ISRO'S foray into the satellite-manufacturing market.

Weighing 3,463 kg at lift-off, it is the heaviest satellite built by the ISRO and is capable of operating for over 15 years.

The spacecraft was built for Eutelsat Communications, which is a global satellite communications provider based in Paris. - PTI

Antrix/ISRO and EADS Astrium Built Commercial Communication Satellite Launched
A state of the art communication satellite, W2M, built by ISRO on a commercial basis in partnership with EADS-Astrium of Europe, was successfully launched today (December 21, 2008) at 0405 hrs (4:05 am) Indian Standard Time (IST) by the European Ariane-5 launch vehicle. The launch took place from the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou in French Guiana.

32 minutes after its lift-off, W2M separated from Ariane-5, after reaching its intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Radio signals transmitted by W2M were successfully received by ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka and the satellite's health is normal.

W2M project was undertaken in the context of an accord signed during the visit of the President of France on February 20, 2006, at New Delhi between Antrix Corporation Ltd., the commercial arm of the India's Department of Space and EADS Astrium to jointly build and deliver a communication satellite (W2M) to Eutelsat Communications, which is a global satellite communications provider based in Paris.

Astrium had the responsibility for overall program management and delivery of the communications payload and Antrix/ISRO provided the satellite bus and also performed W2M's integration and testing at ISRO's facilities in Bangalore. W2M satellite, weighing 3,463 kg at lift-off, is the heaviest satellite built by ISRO and is capable of operating for over 15 years. The satellite's solar panels generate a maximum of about 7000 Watts of power.

Subsequent to its placement in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by Ariane 5, W2M is to be positioned finally at the orbital slot of 16 degree East in the Geostationary Orbit. It carries 32 high power Ku band transponders for telecommunications and broadcasting services over Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

Antrix/ISRO is also responsible for the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) operations of W2M, which is being conducted from Master Control Facility. The operations include 3-axis stabilisation of the satellite, repeated firing of its Liquid Apogee Motor to reach the satellite to its final orbital slot and deployment of its appendages.

Related Links
India Space Reseach Organization
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Leading Brazil TV Network Selects SES New Skies Satellite Distribution
The Hague, Holland (SPX) Dec 26, 2008
SES New Skies reports that TV Record, the longest running Brazilian television network, has selected SES New Skies' NSS-806 and NSS-7 satellites for the distribution of its international and domestic channel line-up. Under the multi-year agreement, TV Record will also use SES New Skies capacity to launch its first HDTV channel for distribution in Brazil.







  • Britain's environment minister concerned by Heathrow plan
  • Climate protesters cause chaos at British airport
  • Thompson Files: Protect U.S. aerospace
  • NASA studies pilot cognition

  • Thompson Files: Wisdom on the bailout
  • China plans to avert US-style auto crisis: report
  • China opens road tunnel under Yangtze: state media
  • China to offer incentives to scrap old cars: state media

  • Boeing Develops Common Software To Reduce Risk For TSAT
  • USAF Tests Battlespace Information Solution On AC-130 Gunship
  • Harris Awarded Contract For USAF Satellite Control Network Program
  • LockMart Delivers Key Hardware For US Navy's Mobile User Objective System

  • BMD Focus: Russia's S-300s boost Iran
  • LM Reports SBIRS Progress But Much Remains
  • The S-300 Mystery Deepens Part One
  • Atlantic Eye: Lockerbie to missile defense

  • Taiwan home-grown food firms get boost after China scandal
  • Chinese dairy firms agree to pay compensation for melamine victims: report
  • Ex-head of China milk-powder firm could face death penalty: lawyer
  • Agricultural Bank of China to be stock-holding company: report

  • Dogs of War: The humanitarianism market
  • China adds 32 deaths to dismal work safety statistics
  • Seventeen dead in gas leak at China steel plant: report
  • China toughens school quake standards: state media

  • New polymer coatings prevent corrosion
  • Solutions Created For Two NASA Missions
  • Eliminating Space Debris - The Quest Continues
  • Space Foundation Recognizes Three GMV Products As Certified Space Technologies

  • Marshall Sponsors Four Student Teams In FIRST Robotics Competitions
  • Jump Like A Grasshopper
  • Rescue Robot Exercise Brings Together Robots, Developers, First Responders
  • Honda unveils leg assist machine for elderly

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement