Indian satellite deployed in final orbit

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

BANGALORE, India (AFP) — An Indian satellite designed to boost television and communication services was on Friday nudged into its final orbit, the national space agency said.

"The satellite is now in the top orbit. Everthing is fine," S. Krishnamurthy, spokesman for the Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), told AFP.

The 3,025-kilogram (6,655-pound) INSAT-4B was launched by Arianespace's Ariane-5 rocket from French Guiana on Monday after a day's delay caused by a technical glitch.

The Indian-built satellite was placed in the final orbit at a height of 36,000 kilometres (22,500 miles) above the equator by scientists at the Master Control Facility in the southern Indian city of Hasan.

On Tuesday, the satellite had been sent into...