INSAT-3D is a meteorological, data relay and satellite aided search and rescue satellite developed by the
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO ) is India's national List of government space agencies, space agency, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It serves as the principal research and development arm of the Department of Space (DoS), ...
and was launched successfully on 26 July 2013 using an
Ariane 5 ECA
Ariane 5 is a retired European Heavy-lift launch vehicle, heavy-lift space launch vehicle operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana. It was used to deliver p ...
launch vehicle from
French Guiana
French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
.
[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 four payloads:
*6 channel multi-spectral Imager
*19 channel sounder
* Data Relay Transponder (DRT)
* Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R)
The sounder has not been operational since September 2020.
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 Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
. INSAT-3D was launched along with
AlphaSat, which is Europe's largest telecommunication satellite.
Retirement
The ''INSAT 3D'' satelite's replacement,
INSAT 3DS launched on
GSLV F14 on 17 February 2024 .it would be retired as its functionality was slowly detriorting and would be used for a different purpose .
Footnotes
External links
INSAT-3D brochure
{{Orbital launches in 2013
Weather satellites of India
INSAT satellites
Spacecraft launched in 2013
2013 in India