Bangalore, June 24: India`s next generation communication satellite Insat-3E is slated for launch by an Ariane rocket in the last week of August, Isro chairman Dr K Kasturirangan said today. "The date for launch has been finalised for last week of August", Kasturirangan told reporters here.

The European space agency, Arianespace, will use the heavier Ariane 5 rocket to launch Insat-3E from the spaceport in Korou at French Guyana in south America. Insat 3E will carry 36 transponders including 24 C-band and 12 extended c-band transponders as payload.

The fourth in the insat-3 series, the satellite is expected to bridge the gap in demand for transponders by private satellite TV broadcasters, Vsat operators, telecom firms and government agencies, among others.

Bureau Report