Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment

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.

Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment

Mission type	Communications
Operator	EADS Astrium
COSPAR ID	1981-057B
SATCAT no.	12545
Mission duration	2 years, 3 months
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	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

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. R. M. Vasagam was the project director of APPLE during 1977-1983[2]

APPLE (Specifications)

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

See also

• List of Indian satellites

References

1. "ISRO success stories". THE HINDU. 28 April 2001. Archived from the original on 17 October 2006. 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. "Biodata RM Vasagam" (PDF). BIT Mesra. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
3. "Welcome To ISRO :: Satellites :: Geo-Stationary Satellite :: APPLE". Isro.org. 1981-06-19. Retrieved 2013-03-17.