India is set to break new ground in space technology in the second week of July with the first-ever launch of an INSAT-class satellite, the heaviest till date, for commercial gains from home soil.
Indian Space Research Organisation officials are talking about a July 10-15 timeframe for the launch of INSAT-4C by a Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle from the spaceport at Sriharikota, on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km north of Chennai.
This will be a boost to direct-to-home television broadcast.
It's for the first time that India's space agency is putting into space a two-tonne class satellite. Equipped with 12 high-powered Ku band transponders, the 2,180 kg spacecraft is designed for a mission life of 10 years.
"Preparations are on for the launch from the second launchpad," Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre Annamalai said.
ISRO officials say launch from a home-grown rocket meant cutting launch costs by one-third -- if the same was to be launched from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana by an Ariane vehicle, India has to pay 30 to 35 per cent more.
Analysts also see the INSAT-4C as another cash cow for ISRO.
All its transponders have been booked well in advance, including by the SUN TV.
ISRO is keen to ride the impending boom in the DTH services segment.
The 1950 kg Edusat was the first INSAT-class satellite launched from home soil.
Launched in September, 2004, it was mainly intended to meet the demand for an interactive satellite-based distance education system.