Indian National Satellite System

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This article documents a current spaceflight. Information may change rapidly as the mission progresses.

INSAT-1B

Image taken by INSAT 2-E

Shown here is a GSLV launch vehicle, one of the main launch vehicles for INSAT satellites.

Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) is a series of multipurpose Geo-Stationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and "search and rescue" needs of India. Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia-Pacific Region. Active satellites of this series include INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-3B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1 (METSAT), GSAT-2, EDUSAT (GSAT-3) and INSAT-4A. INSAT satellites provide transponders (about 150) in various bands (C, S, Extended C and Ku) to serve the television and communication needs of India. Some of the satellites also have the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR), CCD cameras for metrological imaging. The satellites also incorporate transponder(s) for receiving distress alert signals for search and rescue missions in the South Asian and Indian Ocean Region, as ISRO is a member of the Cospas-Sarsat programme.

[edit] INSAT milestones

• INSAT 1 Series
  • 1A April 10, 1982
  • 1B August 30, 1983
  • 1C July 21, 1988
  • 1D June 12, 1990
• INSAT 2 Series
  • 2A July 10, 1992
  • 2B July 23, 1993
  • 2C December 7, 1995
  • 2D June 4, 1997
    • 2DT ARABSAT-1C is acquired and renamed as INSAT-2DT
  • 2E April 3, 1999
• INSAT 3 Series
  • 3A April 10, 2003
  • 3B March 22, 2000
  • 3C January 24, 2002
  • 3E September 28, 2003
• INSAT 4 Series
  • 4A December 22, 2005 (Image & details of the satellite)
  • 4B Launched, along with the British millitary Skynet 5A on Ariane 5, at 22:03 GMT, 11 March 2007.
  • 4C (destroyed during liftoff)
  • 4D (Spare)
  • 4E
  • 4F
  • 4G/GSAT-8