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If everything goes on schedule, India's third generation satellite, INSAT-3C, will be in orbit early Thursday, giving a boost to the country's communication services.
Perched majestically on the silvery white nose of Europe's Ariane-4 rocket, the 2,750 kg spacecraft is set to be blasted into space at 4.23 am IST at Kourou in French Guiana, Indian Space Research Organisation officials said.
The launch countdown will begin at 4.23 pm on Wednesday. The INSAT-3C will carry 24 C-band, six extended C-band and two S-band transponders and a mobile satellite service transponder operating in S-band up-link and C-band down-link frequencies.
"INSAT-3C will augment the INSAT series capacity and provide continuity to the services of the ageing satellites like INSAT-2C," an ISRO spokesperson said.
It is expected to enhance India's capability in the field of telecommunication, broadcasting, business communication and mobile services. "It will cater to the increasing demand for VSATs and broadcast services," the officials said.
INSAT-3C, which has a design life of 12 years, has cost ISRO Rs 2.5 billion. In addition, the launch cost (by Arianespace) is believed to be in excess of Rs 3.5 billion.
An ISRO team, including Chairman K Kasturirangan, Satellite Centre Director P S Goel, INSAT Series Project Director K N Shankara and INSAT-3C Project Director R K Rajangan, are already at Kourou for the launch.
PTI
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