ISRO to launch INSAT-4CR today

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-04 at 4.21 p.m. on Sunday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota about 100 kilometeres from here. The GSLV-F04 will put in orbit the Indias latest communication satellite, INSAT-4CR.

Chennai, Sep 2 : Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-04 at 4.21 p.m. on Sunday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota about 100 kilometeres from here. The GSLV-F04 will put in orbit the India's latest communication satellite, INSAT-4CR.

The 27-hour countdown for the launch of GSLV-F04 began at 1.21 p.m. on Saturday.

According to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Director B N Suresh, the countdown is progressing smoothly for the vehicle's lift.

The GSLV is 49-metre-high and weighs 414 tonnes.

The first stage of the three-stage vehicle (GSLV-04) consists of a core motor powered by solid propellants. The second stage comes alive with liquid propellants and cryogenic fluids - liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen - provide the thrust to the third uppermost stage.

The INSAT-4CR is equipped with 12 high power Ku-band transponders for direct-to-home services, video picture transmission and Digital Satellite News Gathering.

The INSAT-4CR, weighing 2,130 kilograms will also serve users of very small aperture terminals (VSATs), that is, business communications.

INSAT 4CR will replace an identical satellite, INSAT-4C, which had to be destroyed 56 seconds after lift-off due to the failure of GSLV-F02 on July 10, 2006.

The ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, built INSAT-4CR within one year.

ANI