News Headline
Isro’s Insat 4A launched successfully
MUMBAI: The Insat 4A communications satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the MSG-2 weather satellite for the European organisation Eumetsat were successfully launched into geostationary transfer orbit by Arianespace early this morning.
With 12 high power Ku-band transponders Insat 4A is the first satellite to meet the requirement of direct-to-home (DTH) television services apart from carrying 12 C-band transponders to augment the Insat capacity for communication and TV services.
The 12 Ku-band transponders have been leased out to the Tata-Sky DTH venture. Its footprint will primarily cover the entire Indian sub-continent.
Insat 4A, which weighs about 3,200 kg. at launch and was designed, assembled and integrated by Isro in Bangalore, will give a shot in the arm for DTH services in India.
Apart from Tata Sky, several other Indian players like Anil Ambani’s company and the Sun TV group are waiting for space on Insat series of satellites to start their DTH services that have been announced earlier.
Meanwhile, Arianespace carried out five successful launches in 2005, using three standard Ariane 5G and two Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicles, to
orbit eight satellites and over 26 tons of payload.
Today’s launch was the 21st successful launch of an Ariane 5 and the 11th in a row.
Ariane 5 is the only commercial launcher in service capable of
simultaneously launching two payloads and giving customers the performance, flexibility and competitiveness they expect. The Insat 4A and MSG-2 missions were carried out by a standard Ariane 5G launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Thursday 22 December at 3:33 am (IST).
When Ariane L03 was launched on 19 June, 1981, it carried Isro’s experimental satellite Apple, and the Meteosat weather satellite for Eumetsat.
Insat 4A is the 12th satellite for which Isro has chosen the European launcher. Arianespace will also be launching another Isro satellite Insat 4B in the near future.
MSG-2 (Meteosat Second Generation) is the eighth Eumetsat (European Meteorological Satellite organisation) satellite to be launched by Arianespace.
The first MSG satellite was launched by Arianespace on 28
August, 2002, and a ninth satellite, MSG-3, is scheduled for an Ariane
launch in 2009. Starsem, a subsidiary of Arianespace, has two Eumetsat satellites in its order book, Metop A and Metop B.
Provisional parameters at injection of the storable propellant upper stage (EPS) were:
Perigee: 622 km. for a target of 622 km. (±3)
Apogee: 36,152 km. for a target of 36,159 km. (±160)
Inclination: 4.02 degrees for a target of 4.00 degrees (±0.06º)
MSG-2, the second Meteosat Second Generation satellite, is part of a European program comprising four geostationary weather satellites.
MSG-2 was built by prime contractor Alcatel Alenia Space, and will weigh about 2,000 kg. at launch.
The satellite is fitted with 12 separate observation channels, three in the visible wavelength, and nine infrared. It will transmit images every 15 minutes. MSG-2 will ensure service continuity, giving meteorologists a powerful weather observation and forecasting tool covering Europe and neighbouring regions.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
