Sriharikota space centre, April 20: “The equipment carried by the first Indian satellite Aryabhata, is in perfect condition and transmitting regularly the results of experiments. The reception here is very good,” said a beaming Dr. Y. Janardhana Rao, Project Engineer of the Sriharikota Rocket Launching Station (SHAR) in an interview to-day.
The only tracking and monitoring station in the country which is here, monitored the satellite when it passed over the SHAR at 13-18 hours to-day and again at 14-59 hours. When tracked at 13-18 hours the satellite was in its 16th orbit and the tracking was done for the fourth time.
As the satellite lifted off yesterday afternoon from the Bears Launching Station in the Soviet Union, scientists and engineers here were anxious to establish contact with the satellite. “Unfortunately we missed the first orbit, as we could not trace the satellite. But later we got on to its track. The orbit was over French Guyana in South America, Toulose in France, Bears Station in Moscow, and over Sriharikota,” they said.
The Indian Project Director, Dr. U.C. Rao, now in Moscow, spoke to Dr. Janardhana Rao at Sriharikota this afternoon just as the satellite was passing over the Indian tracking station.
Two observers from the Soviet Academy of Sciences, who had been deputed to this station, told The Hindu that they were happy to note that the satellite was orbiting according to schedule.
Published – April 21, 2025 05:25 am IST