INSAT-3A ALL SET FOR LAUNCH ON WEDNESDAY
INSAT 3A is all set
for launch on Wednesday by Ariane-5 from Kouru in French Guyana.
The 2958 kg multi-purpose satellite of ISRO will help augment
telecommunication, broadcasting and meteorological services besides
satellite aided search and rescue operations.
The satellite carries
12 C-band, 6 upper extended C-band, 6 kuband and 1 search and
rescue transponders. The meteorological instruments comprise a
very high-resolution radiometer, a charge coupled device camera
and a data relay transponder.
Of the five satellites
of the INSAT 3 series, INSAT-3B and INSAT-3C have already been
launched. INSAT 3E is scheduled for launch later this year while
INSAT-3D, an exclusive meteorological satellite with advanced
payloads including a six-channel imager and 19-channel sounder
is currently under development.
In the INSAT-4 series,
it is planned to put into orbit seven satellites. The transponder
capacity of this series has been worked out and by 2007 INSAT
system will have about 250 transponders in various bands catering
to a variety of users. The INSAT-4 programme is scheduled to begin
during 2004-05 and by 2007, one of these satellites would be launched
by indigenously built Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
(GSLV).
