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'It is like creating daylight again'

Ranvir Nayar in Paris

India's first third generation satellite, INSAT3B, was successfully launched from the Arianespace launch base at Korou in French Guyana in South America early this morning.

Flight 128, carrying INSAT3B and its co-passenger AsiaStar owned by French telecommunications giant Alcatel, lifted off from Korou at 0501 IST on Wednesday morning in a picture perfect launch. The launch, however, did have its anxious moments as it was held up for over 30 minutes. The first reason was weather, since it has been raining in Korou for the last few days.

The flight was also delayed due to a reading from a sensor in the liquid oxygen feed line leading to the heavylift launcher, Ariane 5. However, the launch occurred within the launch window of 0427 IST and 0520 IST.

Twentyeight minutes after liftoff, AsiaStar was released in a textbook deployment. Six minutes later, INSAT3B, was released, also on the dot.

Within seconds of the INSAT 3B release, the master control facility at Hassan, Karnataka, picked up the initial signals from the satellite. This confirmed that the satellite was launched into the proper orbit and is in good shape.

Indian Space Research Organisation scientists were ecstatic about the launch. A large contingent of ISRO officials, led by its chairman Dr K Kasturirangan, has camped at Korou for the last few days, overseeing the final preparations.

"The launch passed off perfectly. The satellite has been acquired by the MCF at Hassan at 0520 IST. All parameters of the satellite are normal," Rangarajan, director, ISRO, told rediff.com, moments after the acquisition of INSAT3B, which is the first sign of a good launch.

Rangarajan says for the first time, ISRO was also able to monitor the separation sequence – the events leading up to the release of the satellite from the launch vehicle.

The next crucial step will be the first firing of the Apogee Boost Motors of INSAT3B, which is expected to occur early on Thursday morning. This firing will move the satellite into its designated geostationary orbit.

The first firing is expected to move the satellite nearly 60 per cent of the entire distance. The satellite is expected to be placed within its designated parking slot within a week, after three firings of the ABM.

The next step will be the deployment of the solar panels – which will provide power to the satellite. It is only after this and after several intermediary tests, that the satellite will be available for commercial use.

This process is expected to take about six weeks.

Flight 128 was the first dual passenger flight and the first night launch for Ariane 5, which is the latest launcher in the Arianespace launch family.

Everything went off perfectly, say Arianespace officials. "It is incredible. I have seen so many launches, but never had this sensation. It is like creating daylight again," an Arianespace official told rediff.com just as the ignition occurred and Flight 128 hurtled into space.

Weighing nearly 2,100 kg, INSAT3B is the latest Indian multipurpose satellite developed by ISRO. The satellite is a replacement for INSAT2D, whose failure three years ago led to a severe capacity crunch in the Indian telecommunications industry, forcing India to lease capacities on international satellite networks like INTELSAT.

ISRO says it hopes to complete the launch of the five-satellite series by the end of 2002, in order to provide the much-needed capacity for the Indian telecommunication industry. INSAT3A is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2000, with further launches scheduled for next year as well.

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