Ariane-4 rocket to carry INSAT-3C

By R.K.Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, NOV. 19. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) latest multipurpose satellite,INSAT-3C, will be launched from Kouru, the French Guyanese spaceport, on January 16.

Arianespace today said that this ``re-affirms its support to India's space program by providing Ariane-4 to launch India's INSAT-3C, keeping in mind'' the ``urgency expressed'' by its ``long-standing customer.''

``Rising to the occasion as a supplier who is intrinsically involved and interested in India's space program and with the objective to meet their customer's demands, Arianespace has provided ISRO with an efficient, timely and adapted launch service solutions to reduce any delay in the launch,'' the communication adds.

Instead of the earlier planned launch vehicle, the Ariane-5, INSAT will blast off on-board an Ariane-4 (Ariane 42 L) rocket. This is because ISRO is looking at an early launch and ``waiting'' for an Ariane-5 would mean further delay. Arianespace's ``recovery plan'' for the launch vehicle, approved last August, is aimed at resuming Ariane-5 launches ``in early 2002.''

INSAT-3C will have 24 normal C-band transponders, two s-band transponders and s-band satellite service transponders. It will take the place of INSAT-2C, whose planned `life' ends in about six months from now.

INSAT-3C, was initially expected to be placed in orbit around July but was later shifted for a mid-September launch. This was again postponed after the Ariane-5 under-performance. The Indian satellite was then slated to be the first to go up in the modified Ariane-5, in November. But Arianespace later replaced its November launch vehicle and preferred to use its workhorse Ariane-4 (Ariane 44 L).

The satellite is yet to be transported from here to the French spaceport. The sea transport is expected to take about 15 days and the satellite has to reach Kouru 30 days before the launch to carry out the mandatory checks and for integration into the vehicle.

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