The 1,050-kilogram (2,310 pound) METSAT was successfully launched from a Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV-C4) near the southern city of Madras at 3:54 pm (10:24 GMT), a spokesman for the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The satellite will help India predict the weather, particularly cyclones more accurately, the spokesman said.

"The satellite will collect data about wind speed, moisture content (and) temperature which can be analysed," he said.

The launch took place from the 44-meter (140-feet) tall, 295-tonne PSLV-C4 at Sriharikota, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Madras.

METSAT is intended as a precursor to an Indian satellite system that would have separate satellites for meteorology and for telecommunications and broadcasting.

"This will enable a large capacity to be built into INSAT satellites, both in terms of transponders and their radiated power, without the design constraints imposed by meteorological instruments," the spokesman said.

He said PSLV-C4 was on its seventh flight, but it was its first flight aimed at placing a satellite into an orbit.

"Major changes made to the PSLV include the improvements brought about in the performance of the third and fourth stage solid and liquid propellant motor," the spokesman said. "The flight path has also been modified for the present launch."

Roddam Narasimha, a member of India's Space Commission which oversees the space programme, said the launch would help meet the growing demands of the Indian telecommunications and broadcasting market.

"To separate meteorology from communication and broadcasting makes great sense as both the markets in India are seeing an increase in demand," Narasimha told AFP.

"Also the one-tonne plus satellite is a very attractive proposition for the country as it will create new geo-stationary launches from our own stations."

But Narasimha said the commercial launch market was very competitive, with China, the French-led European consortium Arianespace, Japan, Russia and the United States in the fray.

"I do not think the market is an easy one, but I do think India has several advantages. One is the cost-advantage and the other is that it is comparable to the best in the world. I would like to see the involvement of private companies," he said.

By international standards, India's space programme runs on a shoestring budget of around 400 million dollars annually.

But research costs are low, as are salaries, and development expenditure has been spread over a large period of time.

On April 19, 2001 India's new satellite-carrying rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) flew a textbook mission, blasting off on schedule and placing a 1.54-tonne experimental satellite into orbit.

The GSLV programme is meant to place satellites of more than 2,500 kilogrammes (5,500 pounds).

earlier related report
Countdown Begins For Launch Of Indian Meteorological Satellite
India Thursday began a countdown for the launch of its first meteorological satellite Thursday which space authorities believe will catapult the country into the exclusive space launch club.

The 1,050-kilogram (2,310 pound) METSAT will be launched from the Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV-C4) and will help India to predict weather forecasts and cyclones more accurately, a spokesman for the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

"The satellite will collect data about wind speed, moisture content (and) temperature which can be analysed," a spokesman for the organisation said.

The launch is slated for launch on board the 44 meter (140 feet) tall, 295-tonne PSLV-C4 from Sriharikota, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Madras, between 3:30 pm (10:00 GMT) and 4.05 pm (10:25 GMT).

METSAT is intended as a precursor to an Indian satellite system that would have separate satellites for meteorology and for telecommunications and broadcasting.

"This will enable large capacity to be built into INSAT satellites, both in terms of transponders and their radiated power, without the design constraints imposed by meteorological instruments," the spokesman said.

He said PSLV-C4 was on its seventh flight and its first flight to place a satellite -- the METSAT -- into an orbit.

"Major changes made to the PSLV include the improvements brought about in the performance of the third and fourth stage solid and liquid propellant motor," the spokesman said. "The flight path has also been modified for the present launch."

Roddam Narasimha, a member of India's Space Commission which oversees the space programme, said the launch would help meet the growing demands of the Indian telecommunications and broadcasting market.

"To separate meteorology from communication and broadcasting makes great sense as both the markets in India are seeing an increase in demand," Narasimha told AFP.

"Also the one-tonne plus satellite is a very attractive proposition for the country as it will create new geo-stationary launches from our own stations." But Narasimha said the commercial launch market was very competitive, with China, the French-led European consortium Arianespace, Japan, Russia and the United States in the fray.

"I do not think the market is an easy one, but I do think India has several advantages. One is the cost-advantage and the other is that it is comparable to the best in the world. I would like to see the involvement of private companies," he said.

By international standards, India's space programme runs on a shoestring budget of around 400 million dollars annually.

But research costs are low, as are salaries, and development expenditure has been spread over a large period of time.

On April 19, 2001 India's new satellite-carrying rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) flew a textbook mission, blasting off on schedule and placing a 1.54-tonne experimental satellite into orbit.

The GSLV programme is meant to place satellites of more than 2,500 kilogrammes (5,500 pounds).

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