# Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment

> communication satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q2248280](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2248280)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_Passenger_Payload_Experiment)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ariane-passenger-payload-experiment

## Summary
The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) is an Indian communications satellite launched on June 19, 1981. It was manufactured, owned, and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and served as a dedicated spacecraft for telecommunications.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite designed for telecommunications.
- **Operator:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- **Launch Date:** June 19, 1981.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 1 rocket.
- **Mass:** 670 kilograms.
- **Orbit:** Geosynchronous orbit.
- **Launch Site:** Ensemble de Lancement Vega.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 12545.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1981-057B.
- **Country of Origin:** India.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment?
A: It is a communications satellite, commonly known by the alias APPLE, that was designed for telecommunications. It was manufactured and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

### Q: When and where was APPLE launched?
A: The satellite was launched on June 19, 1981, from the Ensemble de Lancement Vega. It was carried into space by an Ariane 1 rocket.

### Q: What are the technical specifications of the APPLE satellite?
A: The satellite has a mass of 670 kilograms and operates in a geosynchronous orbit. Its official Satellite Catalog Number is 12545 and its COSPAR ID is 1981-057B.

### Q: Who was responsible for the APPLE mission?
A: The mission was a project of India, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) serving as the manufacturer, owner, and operator of the spacecraft.

## Why It Matters
The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) represents a significant milestone in India's space program and its development of telecommunications infrastructure. As a communications satellite manufactured and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), it demonstrated the country's growing technical capability to produce complex space hardware. 

The mission's success in reaching a geosynchronous orbit provided essential experience in satellite operations and orbital management. By utilizing the Ariane 1 rocket for its 1981 launch, the project also highlighted international cooperation in space exploration. The data and operational knowledge gained from this 670 kg payload contributed to the advancement of satellite-based telecommunications, serving as a foundational step for subsequent Indian satellite missions.

## Notable For
- **First Ariane Launch for India:** It was a payload on the Ariane 1, a rocket belonging to the Ariane family.
- **ISRO Achievement:** The satellite was entirely manufactured and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
- **Geosynchronous Orbit:** It was successfully placed as a satellite of a geosynchronous orbit for telecommunications purposes.
- **Historical Launch:** Its launch on June 19, 1981, from the Ensemble de Lancement Vega is recorded as a significant event in space history.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment, frequently referred to by its alias APPLE, is categorized as an artificial satellite designed specifically for telecommunications. 
*   **Mass:** 670 kg
*   **SCN:** 12545
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1981-057B
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/07d71s
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "12545"]

### Mission and Launch Details
The satellite's deployment was a major event involving international launch facilities and specific rocket technology.
*   **Launch Date:** 1981-06-19
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 1
*   **Launch Site:** Ensemble de Lancement Vega
*   **Orbit Type:** Geosynchronous orbit

### Organizational and Geographic Context
The project was a national effort by India to expand its presence in space-based communications.
*   **Country:** India
*   **Manufacturer:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
*   **Operator:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
*   **Owner:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

### Global Recognition
The satellite is documented across various international platforms and languages, reflecting its importance in the global space community. It maintains a sitelink count of 11 and is featured in Wikipedia entries in languages including English, French, Hindi, Gujarati, Indonesian, Italian, Malayalam, Marathi, Portuguese, and Slovak.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/apple)