Indian satellite drifting out of sight

After an aborted maiden launch, India's space agency must contend with another blow -- a drifting satellite

In this story: Out of orbit Space power dreams RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Kristie Lu Stout and wire reports

BANGALORE, India (CNN) -- A recently launched communication satellite is drifting away from Indian space agency master control.

India successfully fired the satellite on April 18 after the initial launch was aborted due to a glitch with one of the strap-on engines.

But after its triumphant launch, India's Space Research Organization (ISRO) must now contend with another blow to its ambition to deploy communication satellites on its own.

Out of orbit

The experimental GSAT-1 satellite is drifting at a rate of 13 degrees a day and could go out of sight of ISRO master control by the end of the month, according to Indian news agency UNI.

ISRO sources say the satellite is in good condition though it will not be able to reach its destination at 48 degrees east in a geo-stationary orbit.

Excess use of a propellant during orbit raising maneuvers after its launch last week led to shortage of the fuel necessary to catapult the satellite into geo-stationary orbit.

As a result, the satellite's communication devices -- including transponders for digital audio broadcast, Internet and digital television -- cannot be regularly operated.

The devices can only be tested when the satellite is visible to mission control for a window of ten days every month.

But sources say that even limited testing is not possible since the satellite could disrupt the operation of other neighboring satellites.

Space power dreams

Up to now, India has been depending on foreign countries to launch its communication satellites. In the past it has relied heavily on Europe's Arianespace for launches.

According to an expert assessment in the United States two years ago, it costs between $19,000 and $26,000 per kilogram to place a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Japanese costs are even higher.

The costs for China's Long March were estimated in the $9,800-$13,700 range and Russia's Zenith at $15,000-19,000.

In comparison, the cost of the Indian GSLV rocket launcher was estimated at $19,400 to $25,000.

With the launch and operation of the satellite, India hoped to join the United States, the European Space Agency, Japan, Russia and China as a member of an elite space launch club.

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Indian Space Research Organisation

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