INSAT-4CR to be launched next month

The INSAT-4CR communication satellite will be launched from the Indian space agency's Sriharikota spaceport between August 31 and September 8, sources said Wednesday.

INSAT-4CR is similar to INSAT-4C, which was lost during the unsuccessful launch of the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F02) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in July last year.

"INSAT-4CR, which has a mission life of 10 years, is expected to be launched between August 31 and September 8," a source in the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

Like INSAT-4C, INSAT-4CR has 12 high-power Ku-band transponders designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) television services, facilitate video picture transmission (VPT) and digital satellite news gathering.

"Preparations (for the launch of INSAT-4CR) are already in progress," ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair told PTI. "We will be carrying a satellite similar to the one we lost last year."

The Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) set up to probe the failure of the GSLV-F02 mission concluded that its primary cause was the sudden loss of thrust in one of four liquid propellant strap-on stages immediately after lift-off.

With only three strap-on stages working, there was a significant reduction in control capability.

ISRO has taken action to implement all recommendations made by the FAC.

"That (launch of INSAT-4CR) is one of the challenging tasks, specially in the aftermath of the last debacle. We have to make sure that (the next mission) succeeds," Nair said.