Arianespace To Launch Two Indian Satellites In 2013

AsianScientist (Oct. 22, 2012) – The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has chosen Arianespace to launch the two satellites after calling for an international tender. The contract also includes two more launch options for ISRO.

GSat-7 and INSAT-3D are scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2013. Both satellites will be launched by Ariane 5 launchers from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, the announcement said.

GSat-7 is a multi-band satellite which will weigh 2,550 kg. With a nine-year mission life, its primary role will be to enhance telecommunication services in India. It is a multiband telecommunications satellite.

Though the public posture is that it is purely a civilian telecommunication satellite, speculation is rife that it will also be used by the Indian Navy for communicating with its warships.

Weighing about 2,000 kg, INSAT 3D is a weather satellite and its role includes meteorological, data relay, and satellite-aided search and rescue.

Though both the satellites could have been launched by India’s three-stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) because of their weight, the erratic performance of this rocket has compelled ISRO to depend upon Arianespace.

Following the two successive failures of the GSLV, ISRO will carry out two test flights of this rocket with the indigenous cryogenic engine before allowing it to carry a satellite with regular payloads.

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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Arianespace.
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