INSAT-3D is a meteorological, data relay and satellite aided search and rescue satellite developed by the
Indian Space Research Organisation and was launched successfully on 26 July 2013 using an
Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle from
French Guiana
French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...
.
[ISRO Press Release ]
Address of ISRO Chairman
, retrieved on December 4, 2010 - "We are in the process of finalising one more launch i.e. for INSAT-3D The satellite has 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. It also incorporates new features of bi-annual rotation and Image and Mirror motion compensations for improved performance of the meteorological payloads.
Mission
The mission goal is stated as "to provide an operational, environmental & storm warning system to protect life & property and also to monitor earth’s surface and carryout oceanic observations and also provide data dissemination capabilities."
Payloads
The satellite has 4 payloads:
*6 channel multi-spectral Imager
*19 channel sounder
* Data Relay Transponder (DRT)
* Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R)
Launch
The satellite was expected to be launched using the GSLV Mk-II. On December 4, 2010, ISRO Chairman revealed that ISRO was considering the use of an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle for the launch.
The launch was successfully carried out on 26 July 2013 from
French Guiana
French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...
. INSAT-3D was launched along with
AlphaSat
Inmarsat-4A F4, also known as Alphasat and Inmarsat-XL, is a large geostationary communications I-4 satellite operated by United Kingdom-based Inmarsat in partnership with the European Space Agency. Launched in 2013, it is used to provide mobile ...
, which is Europe's largest telecommunication satellite.
Footnotes
External links
INSAT-3D brochure
{{Orbital launches in 2013
Weather satellites of India
INSAT satellites
Spacecraft launched in 2013
2013 in India