GSAT-12

GSAT-12 was a communication satellite designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It was the second satellite to be launched and placed on a GTO using PSLV.^[3]

GSAT-12

Mission type	Communications
Operator	ISRO
COSPAR ID	2011-034A
SATCAT no.	37746
Mission duration	Planned: 8 years Duration: 11 years, 8 months, 8 days
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	1,412 kilograms (3,113 lb)
Dry mass	559 kilograms (1,232 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	15 July 2011, 11:18 (2011-07-15UTC11:18Z) UTC
Rocket	PSLV-XL C17
Launch site	Satish Dhawan SLP
Contractor	ISRO
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	March 2023
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	48°E (Relocated: 19 Mar 2021.) 83°E (till 9 Feb 2021)
Perigee altitude	35,782 kilometres (22,234 mi)
Apogee altitude	35,803 kilometres (22,247 mi)
Inclination	0.01 degrees
Period	23.93 hours
Epoch	25 December 2013, 01:49:32 UTC[2]
Transponders
Band	12 Extended C band
GSAT ← GSAT-8 GSAT-10 →

Satellite

GSAT-12 was considered to be a replacement of the aged satellite INSAT-3B. It provided services like tele-education, tele-medicine, disaster management support and satellite internet access.^[4]

Payloads

GSAT-12 was equipped with 12 Extended C-band transponders.

Launch

GSAT-12 was launched onboard PSLV-XL C17 from second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre on July 15, 2011.^[5] The tentative life of satellite was 8 years.^[6][7]

Replacement and relocation

While GSAT-12 was still operational a replacement satellite CMS-01(formerly GSAT-12R) was launched on 17 December 2020.^[8] GSAT-12 was relocated from 83°E slot to 48°E slot on 19 March 2021.^[9]

End of mission

In March 2023 GSAT-12 was retired from its operational service. After seven maneuvers to raise the satellite to a circular graveyard orbit, 390 km above GEO belt.^[10][11][12]