Thursday, December 22 2005 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: India's new generation INSAT-4A satellite was successfully launched by European Ariane-5 generic rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana in the early hours of today (Dec 22,2005).

The 3080 kg INSAT-4A, the heaviest satellite built to date by India, was shot into space about 29 minutes after the Ariane rocket blasted off. Some seven minutes later, INSAT-4A's co-passenger European meteorological payload MSG-2 was also deployed.

The first spacecraft in the INSAT-4 series, INSAT-4A telecommunications satellite would give a major boost to Direct-to-Home television services, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials said.

INSAT-4A, which would provide coverage over the Indian subcontinent, has 12ku and 12 c band high-powered transponders and has a design life of 12 years.

The satellite has been built at a cost of Rs 300 crore, with an additional launch cost of $50 million.