The Indian space programme's greatest asset has been Dr. Vikram Sarabhai's vision. He realized
that communications and direct TV broadcasting by satellite was particularly advantageous for a
country as vast as India. ISRO & Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a joint
study on the design of the Indian National Satellite (Insat). These were intended to handle
communications and broadcasting and even some meteorological functions. The Insat 1 Series were
built by Ford Aerospace (now called Loral Space Systems) and launched in America.
The newer generation of indigenous Insat satellites are one of the most advanced in the world.
They carry C, Ku and S band telecommunication transponders, meteorological, imaging and data relay,
domestic long range communications, meteorological earth observation and data collection services,
direct satellite TV broadcasting to community TV recievers in rural and remote areas, radio and
TV programme distribution, satellite aided search and rescue services.
INSAT-4A is the first of the new INSAT-4 satellite series. Weighing 3,100 kg at lift-off, INSAT-4A is designed to meet Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast requirements. It carries 24 transponders, 12 operating in C-band and the other 12 in Ku-band.
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19 June 1981 Apple was launched from Kourou,
French Guyana on Launch Vehicle: Ariane 1, Mass:670 Kg |
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10 April 1982 INSAT-1A was launched
from Cape Canaveral on launch vehicle: Delta 3914, Mass: 1,152 kg. |
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30 August 1983 INSAT-1B was launched Cape Canaveral
on launch vehicle: Shuttle Challenger, Mass: 1,152 kg. |
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21 July 1988 INSAT-1C was launched from
Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 2/3, Mass: 1,190 kg. |
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12 June 1990 INSAT-1D was launched from
Cape Canaveral on launch vehicle: Delta 4920, Mass: 1,190 kg. |
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10 July 1992 INSAT-2A was launched from Kourou
on launch vehicle: Ariane 44L, Mass: 1,900 kg. |
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22 July 1993 INSAT-2B was
launched from Kourou on launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L, Mass: 1,931 kg. |
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06 December 1995 INSAT-2C was launched from Kourou
on launch vehicle: Ariane 44L, Mass: 2,050 kg. |
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03 June 1997 INSAT-2D was launched from
Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 44L, Mass: 2070 kg. |
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02 April 1999 INSAT-2E was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 42P, Mass: 2550 kg. |
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21 March 2000 INSAT-3B was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 5, Mass: 2070 kg
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24 January 2002 INSAT-3C was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 4, Mass: 2650 kg. INSAT-3C will provide fixed satellite
services (FSS) in the normal and extended C-bands, as also broadcast satellite services and
mobile satellite services in the S-band.
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10 April 2003 INSAT-3A was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 5, Mass: 2950 kg. INSAT-3A is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological and Search & Rescue services.
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28 Sept 2003 INSAT-3E was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 5, Mass: 2750 kg. INSAT-3E is an exclusive satellite for providing telecommunications & television broadcasting.
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22 December 2005 INSAT-4A was launched
from Kourou on launch vehicle: Ariane 5, Mass: 3100 kg. INSAT-4A is designed to meet Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast requirements.
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