Launch of INSAT-4B, India - March 12, 2007

ISRO's latest communication satellite, INSAT-4B, was successfully launched on March 12, 2007, by the European Ariane-5 ECA launch vehicle of Arianespace. Weighing 3,025 kg at the time of launch, INSAT-4B is the second satellite in the INSAT-4 series. Its identical predecessor, INSAT-4A, was also launched by Ariane-5 in December 2005. With 12 high power Ku-band transponders and 12 C-band transponders, INSAT-4B will further augment the INSAT capacity for Direct-To-Home (DTH) television services and other communication and TV services.

INSAT-4B was located at 74.88 deg E longitude on March 26, 2007, and drifted towards its final orbital position of 93.5 deg E. The satellite drift was arrested at 80.5 deg E longitudes to carry out in-orbit testing of the payloads. The tests have since been completed and the satellite is being moved to its final location of 93.5 deg E longitude, where it will be co-located with INSAT-3A.

The 12 Ku-band high-power transponders of INSAT-4B are designed to provide DTH and other services over the Indian mainland. The 12 C-band transponders are designed to provide expanded coverage over an area encompassing Indian geographical boundary area beyond India in southeast and northwest regions. For the reception of communication signals that are up linked from the ground as well as to rebroadcast the boosted signals back, INSAT-4B has both a 2.2 meter and a 2 meter diameter parabolic antenna reflectors. INSAT-4B is designed for a mission life of 12 years.

Director of Publications and Public Relations of ISRO Dr. S. Krishnamurthy commented on INSAT-4B as follows: "Today, INSAT has become the largest domestic communication satellite system in the Asia-Pacific region with ten satellites in service -- INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-3B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1, GSAT-2, EDUSAT, INSAT-4A and the latest INSAT-4B. Together, the system provides 199 transponders in C-band, Extended C-band and Ku-band for a variety of communication services. Some of the INSAT satellites also carry instruments for providing meteorological services. KALPANA-1 is an exclusive meteorological satellite. The success of INSAT-4B will herald a boom in Direct-to-Home television in the country besides augmenting other communication services."