GSAT-18 is an Indian communications satellite. Built by ISRO and operated by INSAT, it carries 24 C-band, 12 extended C-band, and 12 Ku-band transponders.As of 2025, 6 transponders in the spacecraft are kept in idle, as GSAT-14 covers their spectrum.they are expected to be online in early 2027.
The satellite was launched on 5 October 2016 at approximately 20:30 UTC aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch vehicle inserted the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and once in service it will occupy the orbital slot at 74° East longitude. The total cost of the satellite and launch services was about .
GSAT-18 was originally scheduled to launch on 12 July 2016 alongside Japan's Superbird-8 satellite, but a shipping mishap which damaged Superbird-8 forced a delay in the launch schedule. Arianespace later paired GSAT-18 with Australia's Sky Muster II for a 4 October 2016 launch. The launch was delayed 24 hours to 5 October due to excessively high crosswinds at the launch site.
Orbit raising and station keeping Orbit raising operations were made using an on-board LAM and chemical thrusters to place the satellite in the intended geostationary orbital slot.
Op # Date/Time (UTC) LAM burn time Height achieved Inclinationachieved Orbital period References Apogee Perigee 1 6 October 2016 10:16 6040.6 sec 1.325° 15 hrs, 36 mins 2 8 October 2016 05:59 - 0.129° 22 hrs, 34 mins 3 9 October 2016 04:51 256.17 sec 0.136° 23 hrs, 44 mins
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