INSAT-4A
INSAT-4A was the first one in the INSAT-4 Satellites series, providing services in the Ku and C band frequency bands. At the time of launch, it was the heaviest satellite India had produced. The Ku transponders cover the Indian main land and C-Band transponders cover an extended area. It has a dozen Ku transponders and another dozen of C-band transponders. This spacecraft was placed at 83°E along with INSAT-2E and INSAT-3B, by Ariane launch vehicle (ARIANE5-V169).[3][4][5]
INSAT-4A spacecraft in deployed configuration | |
Mission type | Communications |
---|---|
Operator | INSAT |
COSPAR ID | 2005-049A |
SATCAT no. | 28911 |
Website | INSAT 4A |
Mission duration | Planned: 12 years Achieved: 13 years, 9 months, 29 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | I-3K |
Manufacturer | ISRO |
Launch mass | 3,081 kilograms (6,792 lb) |
Dry mass | 1,386 kilograms (3,056 lb)[1] |
Dimensions | 2.8 x 1.7 x 2.0 m |
Power | 5,922 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 22 December 2005, 22:33 UTC |
Rocket | Ariane 5GS |
Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Moved to a graveyard orbit |
Deactivated | 21 October 2019[2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Geostationary |
Slot | 83° East (0°N +83°E) |
Period | 24 hours |
Transponders | |
Band | 12 Ku band 12 C-band |
Bandwidth | 36 megahertz |
TWTA power | 140 & 63 watts |
EIRP | 51 & 38 dbW |
Overview
INSAT-4A was a communication satellite intended for providing high quality television, telecommunication, broadcasting services and was the first satellite to be launched in the INSAT-4 series.
Launch
INSAT-4A was launched by an Ariane 5, produced by Arianespace, on 22 Dec 2005 at 4.22 am IST from Kourou, French Guiana. It was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), 30 minutes after lift-off in 3-axis stabilized mode, with a perigee of 859 km and an apogee of 36,055 km. Its co-passenger on board was Meteosat-9 of EUMETSAT.
Payload
- 12 Ku band transponders. It was being used by Tata Sky.
- 12 C-band transponders
End Of Life and Replacement
The satellite was placed in the graveyard orbit on 21 October 2019 after almost 14 years in service.[2] A replacement satellite GSAT-30 was launched on 21:05 UTC, 16 January 2020 aboard Ariane 5 VA251.[6][7]
References
- "Salient features of INSAT-4A". Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- "Historical satellite position data for INSAT-4A for the month of October 2019". Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/insat-4a.htm
- http://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/insat-4a
- "SALIENT FEATURES OF INSAT-4A". www.ursc.gov.in. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- "Press Release: India's communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully - ISRO". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- "Flight VA251 – first Arianespace mission of 2020 a success: EUTELSAT KONNECT and GSAT-30 in orbit". Arianespace. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
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