INSAT-4B Spacecraft Affected by Power Problem

8 July 2010

Due to a power supply anomaly in one of its two solar panels, there is a partial non-availability of services on India’s INSAT-4B Communication satellite.

The INSAT-4B carries a total of 24 communication transponders (12 Ku-Band and 12 C-Band) and has been in operation since March 2007.

On the night of July 7, the satellite experienced a power supply glitch which led to switching ‘OFF’ of 50% of the transponder capacity (6 Ku and 6 C-Band transponders). An expert team is studying the possibilities of partial utilisation of some of the transponders that were switched ‘OFF’ and restoring the services at the earliest.