Final count down for INSAT-4C launch

Sriharikota, July 9 (UNI) At the threshold of a new milestone of launching an INSAT class satellite for the first time from its own launchpad, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is expected to begin the countdown at 1438 hrs this afternoon for the launch of INSAT 4 C from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) here tomorrow.

''The final countdown is expected to begin 1438 hrs'', ISRO sources told UNI when contacted.

This would be the first launch of GSLV from the state-of-the-art second launch pad at Satish Dawan Space Centre here.

All the preparations for the launch of the second operational flight-Geosynchronous satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-FO2) to hurl into Geostationary Transfer Orbit, the two tonne fourth generation INSAT satellite INSAT 4-C were going on smoothly, he said.

So far, India has been launching the INSAT series of satellites from abroad.

INSAT 4-C carrying 12 high power Kun band transpsonders has been designed to provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) television services, Video Picture Transmission (VPT), Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and to serve National Informatics Centre(NIC) for its VSAT connectivity.

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