GECs
Insat 4-A installed in payload dispenser system for 22 Dec launch
MUMBAI: India’s communication payload Insat-4A has been installed atop its Sylda multi-payload dispenser system ahead of its 22 December launch onboard an Ariane 5 generic launcher from the European Space port of Kourou in French Guiana.
The satellite, the heaviest of the Indian communication satellites, carries a mixed payload of 12 Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders. It is also the first in India’s new Insat-4 telecommunications spacecraft series that will provide coverage over the Indian subcontinent. The 12 Ku Band transponders have been leased out to the new Tata-Sky joint venture for direct-to-home (DTH) transmission using Vsats. These transponders could offer DTH customers a bundle of 150 television channels.
The action occurred inside the Ariane 5 final assembly building. As can be seen in the picture featured alongside, Insat-4A is lowered into the assembly fixture, with its Sylda dispenser visible at the bottom center of the photo.
The mated Insat-4A/Sylda unit is to be integrated with the protective payload fairing, and this combination will be positioned over Europe’s MSG-2 second-generation metrological satellite on top of Ariane 5 to complete the payload “stack.”
Liftoff of the Ariane 5 Generic vehicle with Insat 4A and MSG-2 is set for 21 December (around 2 am on 22 December India time).
The MSG-2 platform will provide high-resolution images of the Earth’s weather activity, and is to measure the planet’s radiation balance for information on climate change.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
