Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment Explained

Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:EADS Astrium
Mission Duration:2 years, 3 months
Manufacturer: ISRO
Launch Mass:350kg (770lb)
Launch Rocket:Ariane 1
Launch Site:Kourou ELA-1
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Geostationary
Orbit Longitude:102° East
Apsis:gee

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. Solid-propellant based Apogee Boost Motor to circularize APPLE's orbit was derived from SLV-3 fourth stage.[2]

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. R. M. Vasagam was the project director of APPLE during 1977-1983.[3] [4]

APPLE (Specifications)
Mission Experimental geostationary communication[5]
Weight 670 kg
Onboard Power 210 watts
Payload C-band transponders (Two)
Launch Date June 19, 1981
Launch Vehicle Ariane -1(V-3)
Orbit Geosynchronous
Mission life Two years

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ISRO success stories . THE HINDU . 28 April 2001 . 2013-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061017024248/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1809/18090180.htm . 17 October 2006 . ...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. News: Raj. N. Gopal. 2014-09-10. Trusty engine on Mars Orbiter to be tested yet again. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-04-24. 0971-751X.
  3. Web site: Biodata RM Vasagam. 4 August 2020. BIT Mesra.
  4. Book: From fishing hamlet to red planet. Harper Collins. 2015. 9789351776895. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424223557/https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/article-files/node/4548/apple_pdf.pdf. 24 April 2021.
  5. Web site: Welcome To ISRO :: Satellites :: Geo-Stationary Satellite :: APPLE . Isro.org . 1981-06-19 . 2013-03-17.