INSAT 4 C: Another milestone in India's space tech path

Sriharikota, July 9 (UNI) An air of expectation hangs over the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) here as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the threshold of reaching another important milestone to launch for the first time on its own INSAT 4 C communications satellite through its Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle GSLV tomorrow.

The 2,168 kg satellite, to be placed in its intended orbit by the second operational flight of GSLV-FO2, is designed to provide Direct- To-Home (DTH) television, video picture transmission, digital satellite news gathering services besides serving the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for its VSAT connectivity.

This would also be the first launch of GSLV from the state-of-the art Second Launch Pad (SLP) at SDSC. The SLP, commissioned in May 2005 with the launch of PSLV C6, is designed to reduce the occupancy time for integration and launch.

The final countdown for the launch is scheduled to commence at about 1600 hrs today, according to ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair. It is likely to be launched at 1638 hrs.

The INSAT 4 C would also be the heaviest satellite to be launched from SDSC after EDUSAT and the second satellite in INSAT-4 series.

It's predecessor INSAT 4 A was launched in December 2005.

ISRO's latest launch assumes more significance as so far, India had been been launching its INSAT series communications satellites from abroad.

INSAT 4 C is designed for a mission life of ten years. It carries 12 high power Ku-band transponders designed to provide DTH services.

After it is injected into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GRO), the solar panels of INSAT 4 C would be deployed. Subsequently, in the coming days, the satellite would be manoeuvred to 36,000 km Geosynchronous Orbit.

This would be achieved by firing Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on board the satellite. In the Geosynchronous Orbit, INSAT 4 C will colocate with INSAT- 3C, KALPANA-1 and EDUSAT at 74 degree East Longitude.

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