India's new multi-purpose geostationary satellite, Insat 3C, has reached its designated orbital slot at 74 degrees East longitude.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro), which developed the satellite, the last manouvre to bring the satellite towards its final orbital slot was on 30 January with a three minute firing of the 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) that brought the satellite to near geo-stationary orbit at 63 deg East longitude.

It was subsequently drifting at 2 deg per day before reaching its designated orbital slot at 74 deg East longitude on schedule yesterday.

The testing of the individual transponders will now commence and Insat-3C is expected to be commissioned by the end of the month with 30 more transponders being added to the capacity.

Insat-3C, carrying fixed satellite services (FSS) transponders, broadcast satellite services (BSS) transponders and mobile satellite services (MSS) transponders is intended to continue the services of Insat-2DT and Insat-2C which are nearing the end of their life besides improving and augmenting the Insat system capacity.

All the systems of Insat-3C have been performing as per predictions. The satellite has 488 kg fuel left on board which will be sufficient for its design life of 12 years.