INSAT-3E IN KOUROU – LAUNCH NEXT
MONTH
INSAT-3E, the fourth
satellite to be launched in the INSAT-3 series has reached the
launch centre at Kourou in French Guyana. It will be put into
orbit by ARIANE, the European launch vehicle by the end of next
month. INSAT-3A, 3B, 3C have already been commissioned and INSAT-3D,
an advanced meteorological satellite is scheduled for launch during
2004-05.
Weighing 2750 kg,
the INSAT-3E carries 24 C-band transponders and 12 extended C-band
transponders. When operational it will help augment substantially
the INSAT system capacity, which now has 120 transponders in C-band,
extended C-band, Ku-band and S-band, catering to a variety of
user agencies.
In the coming weeks
the spacecraft will be fully integrated and tested. Later, after
propellant filling operations it will be latched on to ARIANE
for launch in the last week of August.
