INSAT-3A

INSAT 3A
Mission type Communications
Weather
Operator ISRO
COSPAR ID 2003-013A
Website INSAT 3A
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass 2,950 kilograms (6,500 lb)
Dimensions 2.8 x 1.7 x 2.0 metres
Power 3.1 kilowatts
Start of mission
Launch date 9 April 2003, 22:52 UTC
Rocket Ariane 5G V160
Launch site Kourou ELA-3
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 93.5° East (0°00′N 93°30′E / 0°N +93.5°ECoordinates: 0°00′N 93°30′E / 0°N +93.5°E)
Inclination 74 degrees
Period 24 hrs

INSAT-3A, a multipurpose satellite built by ISRO was launched by Ariane in April 2003. It is located at 93.5 degree East longitude.It is third satellite in INSAT-3 series after INSAT-3B & INSAT-3C.Built at a cost of $53 mn, it provides communication, weather, and search and rescue services.

Launch

INSAT 3A was launched by Ariane-5 launch vehicle of Arianespace on April 9, 2003 at 22.52 UTC from Kourou, French Guyana.It was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), 30 minutes after the lift-off in 3-axis stabilized mode, with a perigee (nearest point to earth) of 859 km and an apogee (farthest point to earth) of 36,055 km and an inclination of 1.99 deg. with respect to the equator. Its co-passenger on its launch was GALAXI-XII of PanAmSat.Its Master Control Facility(MCF) is located at Hassan,Karnataka(India). It is 3 – axis body stabilised in orbit using momentum and reaction wheels, solar flaps, magnetic torquers and eight 10 N and eight 22 N reaction control thrusters. Its propulsion system consists of 440 N Liquid Apogee Motor MON-3 (Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen) and MMH (MonoMethylHydrazine) for orbit raising.

Payload

Communication Payload

Meteorological Payload

Services

References

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

External links