Indiantelevision.com's Digital Edge: Arianespace to launch Insat 4G for India

Indiantelevision.com's Digital Edge

Arianespace to launch Insat 4G for India

Indiantelevision.com Team

(25 June 2007 7:44 pm)

MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has once again chosen Arianespace, this time to launch its Insat 4G communications satellite.

The launch is slated for the end of next year, using an Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana.

Insat 4G will be the 14th Isro satellite to use the European launcher. Starting with the Apple experimental satellite on Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 13 Indian satellites to date.

Insat 4G is designed, assembled and integrated by Isro. Weighing about 3,200kg at launch, it has payloads for communications, broadcasting and weather observation. Its primary payload comprises 18 Ku-band transponders and a radio-navigation module. Insat 4G's coverage zone includes the entire Indian sub-continent.

Arianespace chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said, "I would like to thank the prestigious Indian space agency for their loyalty to Ariane and Arianespace, stretching back over 25 years. This will be our 14th contract with ISRO and will provide further recognition of the top-quality launch Service and Solutions offered by Arianespace."