Aryabhata (satellite)

Aryabhata
Aryabhata, India's first indigenously built satellite
Mission typeAstrophysics
OperatorISRO
COSPAR ID1975-033A
SATCAT no.7753
Mission duration5 years, 11 months
(Experiments ended during 5th day in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerISRO
Launch mass360 kg (790 lb)
Dimensions1.4 × 1.4 m (4.6 × 4.6 ft)
Power46 watts
Start of mission
Launch date19 April 1975, 07:30 (1975-04-19UTC07:30Z) UTC
RocketKosmos-3M
Launch siteKapustin Yar 107/2
ContractorYuzhnoye
End of mission
Last contactMarch 1981 (1981-04)
Decay date10 February 1992
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude563 km (350 mi)
Apogee altitude619 km (385 mi)
Inclination50.7 degrees
Period96.46 minutes
Epoch19 May 1975
Transponders
Bandwidth256 bit/sec
Capacity137.44 MHz

Aryabhata was India's first satellite, named after the astronomer. It was launched on 19 April 1975 from Kapustin Yar, a Soviet rocket launch and development site in Astrakhan Oblast using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. It was built by ISRO and launched by the Soviet Union as a part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme which provided access to space for friendly states.