INSAT-2DT, previously Arabsat-1C and also known as INSAT-2R, was a Saudi Arabian and subsequently Indian communications satellite which was operated initially by Arabsat, and then by the Indian National Satellite System.
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Arabsat → INSAT |
| COSPAR ID | 1992-010B |
| SATCAT no. | 21894 |
| Mission duration | 7 years (planned) 12¾ years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Spacebus 100 |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale/MBB[1] |
| Launch mass | 1,360 kilograms (3,000 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 February 1992, 23:58:10 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 44L |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | October 2004 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 31° East 55° East 82.5° East |
| Period | 24 hours |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 2 E/F-band 25 G/H-Band |
Launch and Arabsat service
editLaunched in 1992 as Arabsat-1C, it was operated at 31° East longitude in geostationary orbit,[2] from where it was used to provide communication services to the Arab States. It was constructed by Aérospatiale, based on the Spacebus 100 satellite bus, and carried two NATO E/F-band (IEEE S band) and 25 NATO G/H-Band (IEEE C band) transponders. At launch, it had a mass of 1,170 kilograms (2,580 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of seven years.[1]
It was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 4 rocket in the 44L configuration, flying from ELA-2 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. The launch took place at 22:58:10 UTC on 26 February 1992.[3] It was the final Spacebus 100 satellite to be launched.
Indian operations
editIn November 1997, Arabsat-1C was sold to India as INSAT-2DT.[4] In December, it was moved to a new slot at 55°E longitude, where it replaced the INSAT-2D satellite which had failed in orbit.[5] It remained at 55°E until August 2003, when it was moved to 85.2°E, arriving in November.[6] By the time of its departure from 55°E, its orbital inclination had increased somewhat.
INSAT-2DT remained at 85.2°E until October 2004, when it was retired from service and placed into a graveyard orbit.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Arabsat 1A, 1B, 1C / Insat 2DT". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Arabsat". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ "Arabsat 1C". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ "INSAT-2D". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ a b "INSAT-2R". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.