INSAT-4C

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title: "INSAT-4C" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["spacecraft-launched-in-2006", "insat-satellites", "satellite-launch-failures", "2006-in-india", "spacecraft-launched-by-gslv-rockets"] description: "Destroyed Indian communications satellite" topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INSAT-4C" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Destroyed Indian communications satellite ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]

Field	Value
name	INSAT-4C
mission_type	Communications
operator	INSAT
mission_duration	10 years planned
Failed to orbit
spacecraft_bus	I-2K
manufacturer	ISRO
launch_mass	2168 kg
dry_mass	950 kg
launch_date	UTC
launch_rocket	GSLV Mk.I
launch_site	Satish Dhawan SLP
launch_contractor	ISRO
programme	INSAT
previous_mission	INSAT-4B
next_mission	INSAT-4CR
::

| name = INSAT-4C | image = | image_caption =

| mission_type = Communications | operator = INSAT | mission_duration = 10 years planned Failed to orbit

| spacecraft_bus = I-2K | manufacturer = ISRO | launch_mass = 2168 kg | dry_mass = 950 kg | power =

| launch_date = UTC | launch_rocket = GSLV Mk.I | launch_site = Satish Dhawan SLP | launch_contractor = ISRO | entered_service = | programme = INSAT | previous_mission = INSAT-4B | next_mission = INSAT-4CR INSAT-4C was an Indian communications satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 2006. Had it reached orbit, it would have formed part of the Indian National Satellite System. Launched in 2007, it was intended to have operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 73.97° east. The INSAT-4CR satellite, launched in September 2007, replaced it.

Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation, INSAT-4C was based upon the I-2K satellite bus. It had a dry mass of 950 kg, or 2168 kg when fully fuelled. It was expected to have operated for ten years. The satellite carried twelve Ku band transponders, with two solar arrays to generate power.

ISRO launched INSAT-4C on the second operational flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, which was flying in the Mk.I configuration. The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre; the first time the pad was used by a GSLV. Liftoff occurred at 12:08 UTC on 10 July 2006. Early in the flight a thrust controller in one of the four liquid rocket boosters failed, resulting in the booster cutting off shortly afterwards. Approximately 55 seconds after launch the vehicle veered off-course and began to disintegrate. The range safety officer subsequently commanded the remainder of the rocket to self-destruct.

References

References

1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page.
2. (1 September 2013). "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists.
3. Krebs, Gunter. "Insat 4A, 4B". Gunter's Space Page.
4. Bergin, Chris. (10 July 2006). "India's Insat 4C launch – vehicle explodes". NASASpaceflight.com.
5. Kyle, Ed. "GSLV". Space Launch Report.
6. Clark, Stephen. (10 July 2006). "Indian rocket launch ends in failure soon after liftoff". Spaceflight Now.
7. Clark, Stephen. (2 September 2007). "India's large satellite launcher returns to flight". Spaceflight Now.
8. (10 July 2006). "Key Indian satellite launch fails". BBC News.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::