# INSAT-4C

> destroyed Indian communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1664374](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1664374)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INSAT-4C)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/insat-4c

## Summary  
INSAT‑4C was an Indian communications satellite built and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was launched on 10 July 2006 aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark I (GSLV‑Mk I) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre’s Second Launch Pad, but the mission ended in failure and the satellite was destroyed.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 10 July 2006.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark I (GSLV‑Mk I).  
- **Launch site:** Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Second Launch Pad, India.  
- **Operator & owner:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  
- **Manufacturer:** ISRO.  
- **Country of origin:** India.  
- **Satellite class:** Communications satellite (intended for telecommunications services).  
- **Intended orbit:** Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).  
- **Outcome:** The satellite was destroyed during or shortly after launch, classifying the mission as a failure.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was INSAT‑4C designed to do?  
A: INSAT‑4C was intended to provide telecommunications services as part of India’s INSAT series of communications satellites.  

### Q: When and how was INSAT‑4C launched?  
A: It was launched on 10 July 2006 aboard a GSLV‑Mk I rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre’s Second Launch Pad.  

### Q: What happened to the satellite after launch?  
A: The launch failed, and INSAT‑4C was destroyed, resulting in the loss of the satellite.  

### Q: Who built and operated INSAT‑4C?  
A: The satellite was built, owned, and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  

### Q: Was INSAT‑4C part of a larger satellite program?  
A: Yes, it was part of the INSAT series, which comprises Indian communications satellites serving various telecommunication and broadcasting needs.  

## Why It Matters  
INSAT‑4C represents a pivotal moment in India’s pursuit of autonomous launch capabilities and advanced communications infrastructure. As a GSLV‑Mk I payload, its failure highlighted technical challenges in deploying heavy‑lift launch vehicles and underscored the risks inherent in reaching geostationary transfer orbit. The incident prompted ISRO to refine its launch procedures, improve vehicle reliability, and accelerate development of subsequent launchers and satellite platforms. Understanding INSAT‑4C’s outcome provides valuable lessons for aerospace engineering, risk management, and policy planning within emerging space nations. Moreover, the satellite’s intended role in expanding India’s telecommunications capacity illustrates the strategic importance of space assets for national connectivity, broadcasting, and disaster communication services. The experience gained from this mission contributed to the eventual success of later INSAT and GSLV missions, strengthening India’s position in the global satellite market.  

## Notable For  
- First INSAT‑4 series satellite launched on a GSLV‑Mk I vehicle.  
- Intended deployment to a geostationary transfer orbit for communications purposes.  
- Failure highlighted critical engineering challenges for ISRO’s heavy‑lift launch program.  
- Served as a catalyst for subsequent improvements in ISRO’s launch vehicle reliability.  

## Body  

### Overview  
INSAT‑4C was a communications satellite developed by ISRO to augment India’s telecommunications network. It belonged to the INSAT‑4 series, which focuses on high‑throughput broadcasting and data relay services.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 10 July 2006.  
- **Vehicle:** Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark I (GSLV‑Mk I).  
- **Site:** Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Second Launch Pad, Sriharikota, India.  
- **Mission profile:** Intended to place the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) for subsequent station‑keeping at geostationary altitude.  

### Mission Objectives  
- Provide telecommunications capacity for television broadcasting, telephony, and data services across the Indian subcontinent.  
- Demonstrate ISRO’s capability to launch a heavy communications payload using an indigenous launch vehicle.  

### Outcome and Impact  
The launch did not achieve its intended orbit; the satellite was destroyed, classifying the mission as a failure. The incident prompted a comprehensive review of GSLV‑Mk I systems, leading to design modifications and procedural enhancements that later contributed to successful GSLV missions.  

### Technical Context (as known)  
- **Satellite type:** Communications satellite (geostationary transfer orbit class).  
- **Operator/Owner/Manufacturer:** Indian Space Research Organisation.  
- **Country:** India.  

### Related Programs  
- **INSAT series:** A long‑running family of Indian communications satellites.  
- **GSLV family:** ISRO’s series of launch vehicles designed for placing payloads into geostationary transfer orbit and beyond.  

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*All information presented is derived from ISRO launch records and Wikidata entries for INSAT‑4C.*

## References

1. [Source](https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/list-of-gslv-launches)
2. Jonathan's Space Report