Bangalore: Insat 4B to be launched on March 9

Bangalore, Feb 3: Indian communication satellite INSAT 4B has reached the European Spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana for its March nine launch on board a Ariane five launch vehicle of Arianespace.

The satellite landed at Rochambeau International Airport near Cayenne on January 31 and had been shifted to the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility for the pre launch preparation.

INSAT 4B would be involved in a dual spacecraft mission of heavy liftoff Ariane five vehicle with the co-passenger being Skynet 5A secure military communications platform of the United Kingdom.

Similar to INSAT 4A, the second in the series of the fourth generation communication satellites, INSAT 4B carried 12 ku band and 12 c band transonders. It would meet the additional demand for Ku band transponders and was originally intended to be launched last year.

The fourth generation INSAT satellites number seven in all. With the INSAT 4C meeting a watery grave following the failure of the GSLV mission, ISRO has planned a INSAT 4C(r) satellite as replacement. It would have only 12 Ku band transponders.

UNI