Thursday, March 23, 2000,
Chandigarh, India





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INSAT-3B launched

BANGALORE, March 22 (PTI) — India took a big leap forward in communications and harnessed space technology for grassroots- level development with a spectacular launch of its new-generation home-made INSAT-3B from Kourou in French Guiana early this morning.

Describing the event as a “major step” for the country, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan said the satellite will enhance India’s capability for education, literacy and development communications, which are relevant to rural area development.

INSAT-3B, the first in a new generation of ISRO satellites, will boost very small aperture terminal (VSAT) services for business organisations, enhance mobile telephone and fax services and introduce telemedicine to help remote rural people avail of diagnostics and super speciality hospital consultancy services.

It will also launch the Vidya Vahini programme, providing channels for interactive education and training for distant populations.

INSAT-3B and its co-passenger, US radio broadcast satellite Asia Star, rode into space aboard an Ariane-5 rocket, a new heavy lift launcher from Arianespace, early this morning.

After a 30-minute delay in lift-off due to lightning disturbances in the upper atmosphere and technical problems, the 51-metre-tall Ariane-5 blasted off at 4.58 a.m. (IST) from the Guiana Space Center.
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