INSAT-4A, is the first one in INSAT-4 Satellites series, provides services in K_u and C-band frequency bands. It is the heaviest satellite India has launched till date. The K_u transponders cover the Indian main land and C-Band transponders cover an extended area. It has a dozen K_u transponders and another dozen of C-band transponders. This spacecraft is placed at 83o E along with INSAT-2E and INSAT-3B, by Ariane launch vehicle (ARIANE5-V169)

Overview

INSAT - 4A is a communication satellite intended for providing high quality television, telecommunication, broadcasting services and is the first satellite to be launched in the INSAT-4 series.

Launch

INSAT 4A was launched by Ariane-5 launch vehicle of Arianespace

Arianespace

Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....

 on 22 Dec 2005 at 4.22 am IST from Kourou

Kourou

Kourou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.Kourou is the location of the Guiana Space Centre, France and ESA's main spaceport.-Geography:...

, French Guyana.It was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), 30 minutes after the lift-off in 3-axis stabilized mode, with a perigee

Perigee

Perigee is the point at which an object makes its closest approach to the Earth.. Often the term is used in a broader sense to define the point in an orbit where the orbiting body is closest to the body it orbits. The opposite is the apogee, the farthest or highest point.The Greek prefix "peri"...

 (nearest point to earth) of 859 km and an apogee (farthest point to earth) of 36,055 km.Its co-passenger on board was Meteosat-9 of EUMETSAT.