Status
Partial Failure
INSAT-4CR
Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:51 UTC
The orbit reached was lower than expected. Originally, the ISRO accused the Russian stage of having malfunctioned, before it was proven that the error came from the Indian first stage. Eventually, the 2 160-kg payload reached the designated geostationary transfer orbit. A minor error in orbit inclination was corrected by satellite mission operators.
Rocket
Mission Details
INSAT-4CR
INSAT-4CR is a communications satellite operated by ISRO as part of the Indian National Satellite System. Launched in September 2007, it replaced the INSAT-4C satellite which had been lost in a launch failure the previous year. The satellite is stationed in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 74 degrees east and is expected to operate for ten years, however, this may have been reduced by the underperformance of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle which placed it into orbit. INSAT-4CR is planned to be replaced by GSAT-31, which was launched on February 6th, 2019.