INSAT-4A

INSAT 4A

INSAT-4A spacecraft in deployed configuration
Mission type	Communications
Operator	INSAT
COSPAR ID	2005-049A
SATCAT no.	28911
Website	INSAT 4A
Mission duration	Planned: 12 years Achieved: 13 years, 9 months, 29 days
Spacecraft properties
Bus	I-3K
Manufacturer	ISRO
Launch mass	3,081 kilograms (6,792 lb)
Dry mass	1,386 kilograms (3,056 lb)
Dimensions	2.8 x 1.7 x 2.0 m
Power	5,922 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	22 December 2005, 22:33 (2005-12-22UTC22:33Z) UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5GS
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
End of mission
Disposal	Moved to a graveyard orbit
Deactivated	21 October 2019 (2019-10-22)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Slot	83° East (0°N +83°E / 0; +83)
Period	24 hours
Transponders
Band	12 Ku band 12 C-band
Bandwidth	36 megahertz
TWTA power	140 & 63 watts
EIRP	51 & 38 dbW

INSAT-4A was the first one in the INSAT-4 Satellites series, providing services in the K_u and C band frequency bands. At the time of launch, it was the heaviest satellite India had produced. The K_u transponders cover the Indian main land and C-Band transponders cover an extended area. It has a dozen K_u transponders and another dozen of C-band transponders. This spacecraft was placed at 83°E along with INSAT-2E and INSAT-3B, by Ariane launch vehicle (ARIANE5-V169).

Overview

INSAT-4A was a communication satellite intended for providing high quality television, telecommunication, broadcasting services and was the first satellite to be launched in the INSAT-4 series.

Launch

INSAT-4A was launched by an Ariane 5, produced by Arianespace, on 22 Dec 2005 at 4.22 am IST from Kourou, French Guiana. It was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), 30 minutes after lift-off in 3-axis stabilized mode, with a perigee of 859 km and an apogee of 36,055 km. Its co-passenger on board was Meteosat-9 of EUMETSAT.

Payload

• 12 K_u band transponders. It was being used by Tata Sky.
• 12 C-band transponders

End Of Life and Replacement

The satellite was placed in the graveyard orbit on 21 October 2019 after almost 14 years in service. A replacement satellite GSAT-30 was launched on 21:05 UTC, 16 January 2020 aboard Ariane 5 VA251.