Indian satellite INSAT-4C launch on July 10

BY A CORRESPONDENT
July 7, 2006

India will be launching its largest-ever satellite from its own launcher, the 2,170kg INSAT-4C, on July 10, aboard the indigenously-built Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from the Sriharikota space centre in Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also looking to launch a 4,000kg satellite by 2008.

All Indian TV channels have been allowed to telecast the event live, which will be beamed at 4.30 PM India time.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair told reporters that the launch would proceed as per schedule barring weather conditions. He also said that the vehicle had been moved to the launch pad. ISRO is launching a two-tonne class satellite into orbit for the first time. Launch dates are likely to occur between July 10 to July 15.

Once launched, the exclusive Ku-band satellite with 12 high power Ku-band transponders is expected to speed up direct-to-home television broadcast services. The cost of launch from an indigenous rocket is estimated to save as much as 30 per cent of total cost. The satellite is likely to have a mission life of ten years.

Leading Indian daily Times of India reported: "This type of rocket could in future be the vehicle of choice for launching manned space missions. Meanwhile, ISRO's current thrust is also to build shuttle type reusable launch vehicles that would lift off like rockets in order to insert satellites into orbit and then return by landing on runways like conventional aircraft."

The INSAT-4C is second in a series of seven series 4 satellites yet to be launched, and follows the launch of the INSAT-4A last December, from an Ariane rocket. The eight operational satellites in the INSAT series are INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-3B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1, GSAT-2 and EDUSAT. According to ISRO, the organisation expects to have as many as 225 active transponders by 2007, at various frequency bands.