Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment

Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment
Mission type Communications
Operator EADS Astrium
Mission duration 2 years, 3 months
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer India ISRO
Launch mass 350 kilograms (770 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 19 June 1981 (1981-06-19)
Rocket Ariane 1
Launch site Kourou ELA-1
End of mission
Deactivated 19 September 1983 (1983-09-20)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 102° East

The Ariane Passenger PayLoad Experiment (APPLE), was an experimental communication satellite with a C-Band transponder launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation on June 19, 1981 by Ariane, a launch vehicle of the European Space Agency (ESA) from Centre Spatial Guyanais near Kourou in French Guiana.

APPLE was India's first three-axis stabilised experimental Geostationary communication satellite. On July 16, 1981, the satellite was positioned at 102° E longitude. The 672 kg[1] satellite served as testbed of the Indian telecommunications space relay infrastructure despite the failure of one solar panel to deploy.

It was used in several communication experiments including relay of TV programmes and radio networking. It was a cylindrical spacecraft measuring 1.2 m in diameter and 1.2 m high. Its payload consisted of two 6/4 GHz transponders connected to a 0.9 m diameter parabolic antenna. It went out of service on September 19, 1983.

APPLE (Specifications)
Mission Experimental geostationary communication[2]
Weight 670 kg[2]
Onboard Power 210 watts[2]
Payload C-band transponders (Two)[2]
Launch Date June 19, 1981[2]
Launch Vehicle Ariane -1(V-3)[2]
Orbit Geosynchronous[2]
Mission life Two years[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ISRO success stories". THE HINDU. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 2013-03-17....This important opportunity was utilised to build indigenously a 672-kg state-of-the-art three-axis-stabilised (as against the spin-stabilised Aryabhata) geosynchronous communication satellite called APPLE – Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment – which was launched in June 1981.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Welcome To ISRO :: Satellites :: Geo-Stationary Satellite :: APPLE". Isro.org. 1981-06-19. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
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