The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has commissioned a new 18 metres antenna, which allows the space agency to conduct telemetry and command operations on the much faster X-band.
Till date, ISRO only used X-band for payload data downloading and S-band for telemetry and command. X-band functions in 8GHz to 10GHz as against S-band, which operates with 2GHz to 4GHz.
The antenna and station is capable of performing transmission and receive operations in both S and X bands. It is equipped with auto-tracking features in both the bands and is remotely operable from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (Istrac) network control centre.
