ISRO Signs Ariane for Launch of Insat 4A

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced that it will be contracting with Arianespace to launch Insat 4A on an Ariane 5G in the first half of 2004. The launch services competition included Arianespace, International Launch Services’ Proton-M and Boeing’s Sea Launch vehicle.

Insat 4A will be the first spacecraft in a new-generation of Indian satellites offering telecommunication services, with Insat 4B expected to follow a year later (launch provider not yet selected). Insat 4A is expected to have a launch mass of about 3,000 kilograms. The total cost of Insat 4A and Insat 4B is estimated at Rs 1,354 crore. The estimated revenue from the two satellites is Rs 276 crore per annum. Over a period of 12 years, the two satellites would generate Rs 3,312 crore.

ISRO plans, by 2007, to launch seven satellites  in the INSAT-4 series to augment its capacity to 250 transponders. The 4-series will offer 60 Ku band transponders, 48 C band transponders and 12 extended C band transponders. Insat 4D will be reserved as a spare satellite. ISRO currently operates five satellites:  Insat-2C, Insat-2DT, Insat-2E, Insat-3B and Insat-3C.

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