INSAT-1D

INSAT-1D (Full name: Indian National Satellite - 1D)

Mission type	Communications, Cloud Observation
Operator	INSAT
COSPAR ID	1990-051A
SATCAT no.	20643
Mission duration	7 years
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	INSAT-1
Manufacturer	Ford Aerospace
Launch mass	1,190 kilograms (2,620 lb) (Lift - off Mass)
Dry mass	550 kilograms (1,210 lb)
Power	1000 W (Solar array); Nominal Power: 1200.0 W
Start of mission
Launch date	June 12, 1990, 05:52:00 UTC
Rocket	Delta 4925
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-17B
Contractor	NASA
Deployment date	(2024-02-08UTC09:43:59Z) UTC
End of mission
Disposal	Decommissioned (mission life over)
Deactivated	14 May 2002 (2002-05-15)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	83° east
Semi-major axis	42,164.88 kilometres (26,200.04 mi)
Eccentricity	0.0012393
Perigee altitude	35,741 kilometres (22,208 mi)
Apogee altitude	35,846 kilometres (22,274 mi)
Inclination	14.30 degrees
Period	23.93 hours
Epoch	14 November 2013, 15:52:38 UTC

INSAT-1D was 4th and the concluding multipurpose geostationary satellite of the INSAT-1 (first-generation seven-year responsibility for the operation of the INSAT space segment.

But the success of this launch meant a lot to India - a country that was setting up its national computer networks. Relying on a lot of communication circuits, microwave, coaxial, and fibre-optic telecommunication links throughout the country causes a huge problem; and thus the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planned at the start of the INSAT-1 series to always have at least two satellites in space to meet the increasing demand of telecommunication links for India's civilian community. INSAT-1A and INSAT-1C had already faced immature death and their plans had suffered a serious setback. Another satellite INSAT-1B, launched in 1983, exceeded its planned seven-year working life.

Launch

INSAT 1D was built by Ford Aerospace (now Loral Inc) for the Indian National Satellite System. Initially, the launch was scheduled for 29 June 1989. Unfortunately, 10 days before that, during launch preparation, a launchpad hoist cable broke and a crane hook fell on it damaging its C-band reflector. The fully insured satellite was repaired by Ford Aerospace at a reported cost of $10 million. But that mishap was followed by solar panel damage of cost $150,000 suffered during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. The satellite was finally launched from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States with the Delta 2 rocket. It had a 7-year life expectancy.

Structure

The satellite was box-shaped, measuring 2.18 × 1.55 × 1.42 metres (7.2 × 5.1 × 4.7 ft). A solar sail and 11.5-square-metre (124 sq ft) solar panel extended overall length to 19.4 m (64 ft) when deployed. It was housed 12 C-band transponders for telephone and data communications and two S-band transponders for direct broadcast service. A very high-resolution radiometer (VHRR) was installed for meteorological imagery for long-term weather forecasting, storm warning and resource management.

INSAT-1D played a vital role in replacing INSAT-1B. Moreover, at that moment India already had hired Arabsat's 12 transponders at high cost (the rate of $800,000 per transponder per year). Failure of the 1D mission would compel the government to hire more transponders.

See also

• Indian Space Research Organisation
• INSAT-1A
• INSAT-1B
• INSAT-1C
• 1990 in spaceflight
• List of Indian satellites

Second-generation the Second-generation the External links

• ISRO Satellite Centre, Bengaluru - SALIENT FEATURES OF INSAT-1D
• ISRO - INSAT-!D
• NASA Space Science Data Coordinate Archive