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 Chennai:
The launch of Insat-3E, scheduled for 3 September 2003,
has been delayed further.
According
to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the launch
is now delayed because of the need to retest a few components
of the communication payload. The re-tests have become
necessary in view of a quality alert received from the
manufacturer of these components.
Insat-3E
will be ready in three to four weeks. Arianespace will
finalise the new launch window based on the requirements
of Smart-1 of European Space Agency and e-Bird of Eutelsat,
which are also to be launched along with Insat-3E on board
the 162nd flight of Ariane.
The
2,750-kg Insat-3E, the fourth spacecraft in the Insat-3
series, will carry 24 C-band transponders and 12 extended
C-band transponders. The spacecraft was transported to
Kourou on 16 July 2003.
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