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Insat-3C launched
BANGALORE, JAN. 24. In another boost to India's space programme, a third generation communication satellite, Insat-3C, was successfully launched into space today by the European launch vehicle, Ariane-4. This will give a big push to the country's communication services through enhanced telephony and television channels.
Launched from the French Guyanese spaceport of Kourou after a 54-minute delay, Ariane-4 majestically soared into space carrying the 2,750 kg-Insat-3C, its lone occupant on board, and hurtled it into space 21 minutes after the lift-off.
Within half-an-hour after the satellite was injected into a geo-synchronous transfer orbit, the Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka took control of the spacecraft and acquired the telemetry signal from it.
The Rs. 250-crore Insat-3C with a designed 12-year mission life, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), would replace aging satellites such as Insat-2C and give an impetus to India's telecommunications, broadcasting, business communication and mobile services.
In a post-launch briefing, an elated Kasturirangan, Chairman of ISRO, said initial evaluation of the performance of the satellite ``appears to be satisfactory''. ISRO has lined up launch of two more satellites - Insat 3a and Insat 3E - in the next year.
The President, K.R. Narayanan, congratulated ISRO, saying, ``The successful launch of Insat-3C is yet another landmark in our path-breaking quest for exploration of space and application of space technology for our national development.''
The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, congratulated scientists, engineers and other associations for the successful launch. - PTI, UNI
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