INSAT-4B launch important landmark for India: Nair

Bangalore, Mar 12 (UNI) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair today termed the launch of country's latest communication satellite INSAT-4B by Arianespace from Kourou in French guyana as an important event for India.

A beaming Mr Nair, immediately after the launch congratulated Arianespace for a precise launch and confirmed that the Indian space controllers at Master Control Facility in Hassan in Karnataka have secured strong and good signals from the over 3,000 kg satellite.

He described the launch as a precise one that enabled ISRO to secure the desired orbital parameter for the satellite.

This was the 13th launch by Arianespace for ISRO, he added.

Mr Nair said the satellite would over the next few days be manoeuvred to its space home of 93.5 degrees east longitude in geostationary orbit and payload checkout would be completed in about a month's time.

He said the 24 transponders in the satellite -- 12 each in Ku and C Band would serve business and commercial interests of the country besides providing quality transmission of television programmes in Direct to Home systems.

UNI