Mumbai : The Indian Space Research Organisation has signed up with Arianspace for the launch of Insat 3A and Insat 3E in late 2001 and late 2002 respectively. DirecTV of the United States and Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd too have signed up with Arianspace to launch their satellites.Insat 3A is a hybrid satellite carrying a mixed C/Ku-band communications payload and a weather monitoring system, and is positioned at 83 degrees East, over the Indian Ocean. Insat 3A is a dedicated communications satellite, with 36 C-band transponders. DirectTV's latest digital TV direct broadcast satellite DirectTV 4S is built by Boeing Satellite Systems, the 5-ton spacecraft and will be launched at the end of 2001 or early the following year. It will be fitted with 38 high-power Ku-band transponders, providing direct broadcast of local TV stations using digital compression technology. It will be positioned at DirecTV's primary orbital slot at 101 degrees West, over the Galapagos Islands to cover all of the United States.
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd will launch Amos 2 by late 2002 or early 2003. Weighing 1,300 kg at liftoff, Amos 2 will be operated by Spacecom Ltd. It is to be equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders and will beam the digital broadcast package provided by new Israeli operator YES. It offers extended coverage over the entire Middle East. Amos 2 will be co-located with Amos 1 at 4 degrees West over the Gulf of Guinea.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
