Aryabhata 1

India

International Sat. n°:

Indian satellite n°: 1

India's first satellite

Launch data:

Designation	07752 / 75033A
Launch date	19 April 1975 - 7:40 UT
Launch site	Kapustin Yar, LC107/2
Launch vehicle	Cosmos-3 M (11K65M) (#279)
Mission	Scientific: ionosphere study
Earth orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	563 x 619 km
Eccentricity
Inclination	50.7 deg
Period	92.6 min

Studied astronomy sources and relations between Earth and Sun (X-ray astronomy, solar physics and aeronomy).

Spacecraft data:

Prime manufacturer
Platform
Operator
Mass at launch	360 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
Solar array	none, solar cells
Stabilization	Spinstabilize
Communication	VHF band
Payload	X-ray Astronomy Aeronomy & Solar Physics
DC power	46 W
Mission life	6 months(nominal), Spacecraft mainframe active till March,1981

End of life:

Out of service	After 4 days
Cause	Failure of the Indian-designed transformer
Re-entered date	11 Feb 1992

Mission details:

India's first satellite, named for the Indian mathematician Aryabhata (c. AD 450). The Soviet Union provided the launch vehicle and assisted India in developing Aryabhata, which carried out satellite technology tests and made observations of the upper atmosphere.

Ref.: #1, #7, #15, #95, #120 - update: 19.05.12