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Indian National Satellite System

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(Redirected from INSAT)
Not to be confused with Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System.

INSAT
INSAT-1B
ManufacturerISRO
Country of originIndia
OperatorINSAT
ApplicationsCommunications and Meteorology
Specifications
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Production
StatusIn service
On order0
Built24
Launched24
Operational9
Retired12
Failed1
Lost2
Maiden launchINSAT-1A, 10 April 1982
Last launchINSAT-3DS, 17 February 2024

The Indian National Satellite System or INSAT, is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations. Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Indo-Pacific Region and laid the foundation for India's self-reliant space-based communication infrastructure. It is a joint venture of the Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, India Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. The overall coordination and management of INSAT system rests with the Secretary-level INSAT Coordination Committee.

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), CCD cameras 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Transition into GSAT

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Main article: GSAT

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

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The following is a list of launched INSAT satellites.

Launched INSAT satellites
INSAT series GSAT Series Other name(s) COSPAR ID Launch date and time,
UTC 		Launch vehicle Lift-off mass Orbital parameters Outcome Purpose
Longitude Inclination
INSAT-1A — 1982-031A 10 April 1982, 06:47:00 United States Delta 3910 / PAM-D 1,152 kg (2,540 lb) 74° East 14.59° Partial success Communication
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.
INSAT-1B — 1983-089B 30 August 1983, 06:32:00 United States Space Shuttle Challenger

STS-8 / PAM-D

1,152 kg (2,540 lb) 93° East (1992-93)[a] 14.69° Successful Communication
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.
INSAT-1C — 1988-063A 21 July 1988, 06:32:00 France Ariane 3 1,190 kg (2,620 lb) 93.5° East 11.6° Successful Communication and meteorology
Decommissioned in 2001 after thirteen years of service.
INSAT-1D — 1988-063A 9 July 1992, 05:52:00 United States Delta 4000 4925-8 1,190 kg (2,620 lb) 83° East 14.30° Successful Telecom
Last satellite of INSAT-1 series. Aided in setting up national computer networks. Decommissioned on 14 May 2002.
INSAT-2A — 1992-041A 9 July 1992, 22:42:00 France Ariane 4 44L V-51/423 1,906 kg (4,202 lb) 74° East 14.5° Successful Meteorology and Search and rescue
INSAT-2A has an advanced power amplifiers for catering communication terminals and was the first series-2 satellite to replace the INSAT-1.
INSAT-2B — 1993-048B 22 July 1993, 22:58:00 France Ariane 4 44L V-58/429 1,906 kg (4,202 lb) 93.5° East 14.4° Successful Multipurpose
Primarily for telecommunication and meteorological observations, also carried a search and rescue transponder. Decommissioned on 1 July 2004.
INSAT-2C — 1995-067B 6 December 1995, 23:23:00 France Ariane 4 44L V-81/453 2,106 kg (4,643 lb) 93.5° East 14.2° Successful Communication
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-2D — 1997-027B 4 June 1997, 23:23:00 France Ariane 4 44L V-97/468 2,079 kg (4,583 lb) 93.5° East 12.8° Partial success Communication
Became inoperable just four months later on 4 October 1997, due to a power bus anomaly and associated problems, most likely a short circuit.[1]
INSAT-2DT — Saudi Arabia Arabsat-1C (formerly) 1992-010 26 February 1992, 23:58:10 France Ariane 4 44L V-49/421 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) 82.5° East 14.2° Successful Communication
In November 1997, Arabsat-1C was sold to India as INSAT-2DT.[2] Decommissioned in October 2004.
INSAT-2E — APR-1 1999-016A 2 April 1999, 22:03:00 France Ariane 4 42P V-117/486 2,550 kg (5,620 lb) 83° East 11° Operational Communication and weather
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.
INSAT-3A — 2003-013A 9 April 2003, 22:52:00 France Ariane 5 42P V-117/486 2,950 kg (6,500 lb) 93.5° East 8.3° Operational Multipurpose
Third satellite launched in INSAT-3 series after INSAT-3B & INSAT-3C.
INSAT-3B — 2000-016B 21 March 2000, 23:28:00 France Ariane 5 G 505 5,800 kg (12,800 lb) 83° East 10.4° Successful Communication
First Geostationary satellite of India.
INSAT-3C — 2002-002A 23 January 2002, 23:46:57 France Ariane 4 42L-3 4108 5,800 kg (12,800 lb) 74° East 7.9° Operational Multipurpose
Provides voice, video and digital data services to India and neighboring countries.
INSAT-3D — 2013-038B 25 July 2013, 19:54:07 France Ariane 5 ECA 569 2,061 kg (4,544 lb) 82° East 1.4° Operational Meteorology
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.
INSAT-3DR — 2016-054A 8 September 2016, 11:20:00 India GSLV MkII F09 2,061 kg (4,544 lb) 74° East 0.1° Operational Meteorology
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.
INSAT-3DS — 2024-033A 17 February 2024, 12:05:00 India GSLV MkII F14 2,275 kg (5,016 lb) 74° East 0.0° Operational Meteorology
Follow on of INSAT-3DR mission.
INSAT-3E — 2003-047E 27 September 2003, 23:14:46 France Ariane 5G V162 2,775 kg (6,118 lb) 55° East 9.2° Successful Communication
Ran out of oxidizer after seven years of operation, moved to Graveyard orbit in April 2014.[3]
INSAT-4A — 2005-049A 21 December 2005, 22:33:00 France Ariane 5GS 525 1,386 kg (3,056 lb) 83° East 5.9° Successful Telecom
At the time of launch, it was the heaviest satellite India had built. Decommissioned on 21 October 2019.
INSAT-4B — 2007-007A 11 March 2007, 22:03:00 France Ariane 5ECA 535 1,335 kg (2,943 lb) 93.48° East 5.6° Successful Communication
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.
INSAT-4C — — 10 July 2006, 12:08:00 India GSLV MKI F02 2,168 kg (4,780 lb) — Launch failure Communication
Both rocket and satellite had to be destroyed over the Bay of Bengal after the rocket's trajectory veered outside permitted limits.
INSAT-4CR — 2007-037A 2 September 2007, 12:51:00 India GSLV MKI F04 2,168 kg (4,780 lb) 74° East 6.3° Successful Communication
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.
INSAT-4E GSAT-6 — 2015-041A 27 August 2015, 11:22:00 India GSLV MKII D6 2,117 kg (4,667 lb) 83° East 6.3° Operational Multimedia
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.
INSAT-4F GSAT-7 — 2013-044B 29 August 2013, 20:30:00 France Ariane 5 ECA 570 2,117 kg (4,667 lb) 74° East 0.1° Operational Military
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.
INSAT-4G GSAT-8 — 2011-022A 20 May 2011, 20:38:00 France Ariane 5 ECA VA202 2,117 kg (4,667 lb) 55° East 1.6° Operational Communication
First satellite to carry GAGAN payload.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 74° East (1983-92)

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian National Satellite System.
  1. ^ "INSAT-2D". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Arabsat 1C". TSE. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  3. ^ S, Madhumathi D. (2 April 2014). "After 10 years in orbit, INSAT-3E expires". The Hindu.
  4. ^ Radhakrishnan, Koppillil (2016). My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man behind the Mangalyaan Mission. Penguin UK. p. 190. ISBN 978-9385990380.
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