INSAT 2E LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGINS
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)
is readying for the launch of its latest satellite Insat
2E on an Ariane rocket from Kourou in French Guyana between
2 and 7 April 1999. The satellite was flown on a chartered
Air France plane to the launch site last week. Tests are
to be carried out at the Arianespace launch site from 16
February.
Insat 2E has been built indigenously by Isro
engineers. The satellite's launch cost has been placed at
$69 million while its insurance premium has been pegged
at $12 million, providing cover for the launch and three
years of its orbital life. The satellite is carrying payloads
for telecom, broadcasting and meteorological services. Intelsat
has already leased 11 transponders on the satellite for
10 years at a cost of $100 million. Insat 2E is the last
of the second-generation satellites that Isro has developed.
The space outfit has already commenced work on the Insat
3 series. Insat 3B will be the first of this series to be
launched later this year. It will be used mainly for communications
purposes and will have 12 extended C-band and five Ku-band
transponders.
Meanwhile, a national review committee has
blamed a short circuit in the power line for the failure
of the Insat 2D within four months of its launch in October
1997. The short circuit led to power depletion in the two
power buses. Finally, the satellite failed on account of
the cascading effect that the power failure had on its thermal
system. Isro has taken this potential hazard into account
while designing Insat 2E and has separated the two power
buses and used less susceptible materials on board. Insat
2E's launch was earlier planned for October but it was delayed
to make corrections and carry out further tests after Insat
2D's demise.
Another big event in April for Isro will be
the blasting off of its PSLV (Polar satellite launch vehicle)
with its three-satellite payload from Sriharikota in Andhra
Pradesh. India's Oceansat-1, South Korea's Kitsat-3 and
German satellite Tubsat are to be launched by the PSLV.
