INSAT satellites provide transponders in various bands to serve the television and communication needs of India. Some of the satellites also have the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR), CCDcameras for meteorological 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 program.
INSAT system
INSAT-1B satellite: Broadcasting sector in India is highly dependent on INSAT system.
The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system was commissioned with the launch of INSAT-1B in August 1983 (INSAT-1A, the first satellite was launched in April 1982 but could not fulfil the mission). INSAT system ushered in a revolution in India's television and radio broadcasting, telecommunications and meteorological sectors. It enabled the rapid expansion of TV and modern telecommunication facilities to even the remote areas and off-shore islands. Together, the system provides transponders in C, Extended C and Ku bands for a variety of communication services. Some of the INSATs also carry instruments for meteorological observation and data relay for providing meteorological services. KALPANA-1 is an exclusive meteorological satellite. The satellites are monitored and controlled by Master Control Facilities that exist in Hassan and Bhopal.
INSAT-1 series
The first generation of INSAT satellites, developed with NASA assistance, included INSAT-1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, with all of them being launched in the 1980s. Their success established India's capability to operate a national communications and weather-monitoring satellite fleet. 1B, launched in 1983, became the first fully operational Indian GEO communications satellite.
INSAT-2 series
The INSAT-2 series during the 1990s, marked the shift to fully indigenous satellite design. Models included INSAT-2A, 2B, SC, 2D, and 2E, each offering expanded transponder capacity, improved meteorological imaging and enhanced reliability.
INSAT-3 series
Launched between 2000 and 2003, the INSAT-3 series introduced larger satellites with advanced payloads. 3B was for business communication, 3C for national telecommunication backbone, 3A and 3D for meteorology and disaster warning, and 3E for broadacting[sic?] and data relay.
INSAT-4 series
The INSAT-4 generation launched between 2005 and 2010 focused on high-power Ku-band DTH broadcasting. 4A was India's first dedicated DTH satellite, 4B and 4CR was for communication and replacement missions, and 4E (also known as GSAT-6) had a large S-band antenna for mobile communications. INSAT-4 satellites were eventually supplemented by the newer GSAT series.
Many communication satellites which were originally conceived under the INSAT umbrella were reclassified as GSAT as ISRO shifted to newer satellite bus platforms of I-2K and I-3K. INSAT continues to focus mainly on meteorology and disaster management, while GSAT handles broadband, telecom, and strategic communication.
List of INSAT satellites
The following is a list of launched INSAT satellites.
First Satellite in INSAT Series and First Satellite of INSAT-1 Series. Built by Ford Aerospace, operated for only five months out of seven years planned. Abandoned on 6 September 1982 after a series of failures.
First successful INSAT satellite. At the end of its seven-year design life it was replaced by the newly launched INSAT-1D, dropping to backup status. Decommissioned in August 1993.
It had capabilities of business communication, mobile satellite service and could make television outreach beyond boundaries of India. In January 2013, its communication C-band transponder collapsed. It also improved communication facilities in Northeast India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
INSAT-2E is using ultra-light Magnesium-lithium alloys developed by DMRL. It also carries two meteorological instruments; the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR), and a CCD camera capable of returning images with a resolution of one kilometre.
The satellite had many new technology elements like star sensor, micro stepping Solar Array Drive Assembly (SADA) to reduce the spacecraft disturbances and Bus Management Unit (BMU) for control and telecom and telemetry function.
Uses a 6-channel imager and a 19-channel sounder, as well as search and rescue information and message relay for terrestrial data collection platforms.
Suffered a disruption in power supply from one of the two solar panels, rendering half of its transponder capacity useless.[4] Decommissioned on 24 January 2022.
Due to an error in the guidance subsystem , rocket achieved orbit had lower apogee and inclination higher than expected. Orbit corrected through satellite, eventually the INSAT-4CR was placed in its slot. Decommissioned on 24 November 2020.
Offers a Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (S-DMB) service across several digital multimedia terminals or consoles which can be used to provide information services to vehicles on the fly and to the mobile phones.
According to defense experts, the satellite will enable the navy to extend its blue water capabilities and stop relying on foreign satellites like Inmarsat, which provide communication services to its ships.
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