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India's domestic communication satellite system will make a quantum jump with plans to launch seven satellites under the new INSAT-4 series by 2007.
The satellites in the new configuration is expected to help in increasing the INSAT transponders in various bands to 251, according to the 2001-02 report of the department of space.
INSAT-4 series is envisaged to have seven satellites, INSAT-4A through INSAT-4G with INSAT-4D as a spare, the report said, adding the transponder capacity has been worked out after a detailed evaluation of the projected requirements by various users.
The Indian National Satellite System is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia Pacific region with five satellites, INSAT-2C, INSAT-2DT, INSAT-2E, INSAT-3B and INSAT-3C in operation.
Regarding other space projects, the report said GSAT-2, which would be launched by the second developmental test flight of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D2), has undergone completion of assembly of flight structure.
The report said, "GSAT-3 and GSAT-4 are also under planning. One of these satellites is proposed to carry Ka-band regenerative transponders and a large unfurlable antenna, besides other new technologies."
The communication payload of GSAT-1, launched by the first developmental GSLV flight in April 2001, consisting of three normal C-band transponders and two CSX transponders have also been tested and all transponders have worked normally, the report added.
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