According to the ISRO chief, work on another INSAT-4 satellite was on and “we will have a successful launch within a year”. This would be a heavier satellite and would be launched from Kourou in French Guiana.

New India, French partner to pick tab

• New India Assurance and French reinsurance partner Space Co to pay for INSAT-4C loss

• ISRO paid nearly Rs 150 crore premium for satellite’s launch and one year of orbit life

• In case of complete loss, satellite was insured up to Rs 900 crore, depending on different stages of flight

• Launch vehicle was not insured, claim may not be as high as total insured amount

• ISRO may have to pay higher premium next time

• Along with premium, New India also passed on risk to Space Co which has so far reinsured 10 ISRO programmes

• Direct-to-home (DTH) plans of Sun TV take a hit as it had booked 7 of 12 transponders on INSAT-4C

• Lankan TV too had booked transponders in satellite

—Dev Chatterjee