Geo-Stationary Satellites

The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system which are placed in Geo-stationary orbits is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B, it initiated a major revolution in India’s communications sector and sustained the same later. INSAT space segment consists of 24 satellites out of which 9 are in service (INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1, INSAT-4A, INSAT-4CR and GSAT-8) The system with a total of nearly 175 transponders in the C, Extended C and Ku-bands.provides services to telecommunications, television broadcasting, weather forecasting, disaster warning and Search and Rescue operations.
	Launch Date	15.07.2011
GSAT-12 carries 12 Extended C-band transponders. More..
	Launch Date	21.05.2011
GSAT-8 is a high power communication satellite More..
	Launch Date	25.12.2010
GSAT-5P was the fifth satellite in the GSAT series weighing 2310 kg  More..
	Launch Date	15.04.2010
GSAT-4 was an experimental satellite weighing 2220 kg More..
	Launch Date	02.09.2007
INSAT-4CR was injected into the orbit by GSLV-F04 rocket from SDSC, SHAR.  More..
	Launch Date	12.03.2007
INSAT – 4B Spacecraft is the second in the INSAT 4 series of spacecrafts and is configured with exclusive communication payload More..
	Launch Date	10.07.2006
INSAT–4C spacecraft is configured with exclusive Ku band;however, could not complete the mission.   More..
	Launch Date	22.12.2005
INSAT-4A, first in INSAT-4 Satellites series provides services in Ku and C-band frequency bands. More..
	Launch Date	05.05.2005
HAMSAT is ISRO’s first theme based Micro Satellite meant for providing Satellite based Amateur Radio services  More..
	Launch Date	20.09.2004
GSAT – 3, well known as EDUSAT is meant for distant class room education More..
	Launch Date	28.09.2003
INSAT-3E, an exclusive communication satellite to further augment the communication services provided by the INSAT System. More..
	Launch Date	08.05.2003
GSAT-2 is a 2000 kg class experimental communication satellite More..
	Launch Date	10.04.2003
INSAT – 3A is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological and search and rescue services. More..
	Launch Date	12.09.2002
Kalpana – 1 is the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO. More..
	Launch Date	24.01.2002
INSAT – 3C to augment the existing INSAT capacity for communication and broadcasting  More..
	Launch Date	18.04.2001
GSAT-1 is envisaged as a technology demonstrator. More..
	Launch Date	22.03.2000
INSAT – 3B was the first of the five ISRO built satellites under INSAT – 3 series.   More..
	Launch Date	03.04.1999
INSAT - 2E, the last of the INSAT -2 series of satellites built by ISRO More..
	Launch Date	Jan 1998
Communication satellite, replacement for INSAT-2D. More..
	Launch Date	04.06.1997
The spacecraft are similar to the earlier Insats but are 200 kg heavier at launch (2,100 kg) More..
	Launch Date	07.12.1995
Power of four C-band transponders increased to improve communication facilities in remote areas More..
	Launch Date	23.07.1993
Insat-2A, B of the Insat-2 series of satellites built by ISRO, are multi-purpose satellites for telecommunication More..
	Launch Date	10.07.1992
First Multipurpose satellite built by India, Sucessfully Operationalised in August 1992. More..
	Launch Date	12.06.1990
The specification for the Insat-1D is the same as the Insat-1B but with expanded battery and propellant capacities. More..
	Launch Date	21.07.1988
The Insat-1C satellite was launched on 21 July 1988 from Kourou for location at 93.5° E to bring the Insat system up to full capacity. More..
	Launch Date	30.08.1983
When Insat-1B was launched on 30 August 1983, it almost suffered the same fate as the Insat-1A. More..
	Launch Date	10.04.1982
Insat-1 was a multi-purpose satellite system to provide two high power TV broadcast and twelve telecommunications national coverage transpondersMore.. (courtasy: isro.org)

GSLV MARK III

The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III , is a launch vehicle currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organization. GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh 4500 to 5000  kg. It would also enhance the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial launch market. The vehicle envisages multi-mission launch capability  for GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate circular orbits.

GSLV-Mk III is designed to be a three stage vehicle, with 42.4 m tall with a lift off weight of 630 tonnes. First stage comprises two identical S200 Large Solid Booster (LSB) with 200 tonne solid propellant, that are strapped on to the second stage, the L110 re-startable liquid stage. The third stage is the C25 LOX/LH2 cryo stage. The large payload fairing measures 5 m in diameter and can accommodate a payload volume of 100 cu m. The development work on Mk III is progressing as per schedule for a launch in 2012.

Typical Parameters of GSLV Mark III  Lift-off weight 630 Tonne  Pay Load 4 Tonne in to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)  Height 42.4 metre (courtasy: isro.org)

GSLV

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(GSLV)-Mark I&II ,is capable of placing INSAT–II class of satellites (2000 – 2,500 kg) into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).  GSLV is a three stage vehicle GSLV is 49 m tall, with 414 t lift off weight. It has a maximum diameter of 3.4 m at the payload fairing. First stage comprises S125 solid booster with four liquid (L40) strap-ons.  Second stage (GS2) is liquid engine and the third stage (GS3) is a cryo stage.   The vehicle develops a lift off thrust  of 6573 kn.  The first flight of GSLV took place from SHAR on April 18, 2001 by launching 1540 kg GSAT-1. It was followed by six more launches , GSLV-D2 on May 8, 2003 (GSAT-2  1825 kg), GSLV-F01 on September 20, 2004 (EDUSAT 1950 kg), GSLV-F02 on July 10, 2006, GSLV-F04 on September 2, 2007 (INSAT-4CR   2130 kg), GSLV-D3 on April 15, 2010 and GSLV-F06 on December 25, 2010. Typical Parameters of GSLV  Lift-off weight 414 tonne  Pay Load 2 to 2.5 Tonne in to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)  Height 49 metre GSLV Milestones GSLV-F06 launched GSAT-5P on December 25, 2010 (Unsuccessful) GSLV-D3 launched GSAT-4 on April 15, 2010 (Unsuccessful) GSLV-F04 launched INSAT-4CR on September 2, 2007 (Successful) GSLV-F02 launched INSAT-4C on July 10, 2006 (Unsuccessful) GSLV-F01 launched EDUSAT(GSAT-3) on September 20, 2004 (Successful) GSLV-D2 launched GSAT-2 on May 8, 2003 (Successful) GSLV-D1 launched GSAT-1 on April 18, 2001 (Successful) (courtasy: isro.org)

PSLV

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle,usually known by its abbreviation PSLV is the first operational launch vehicle of ISRO. PSLV is capable of launching 1600 kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1050 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer orbit. In the standard configuration, it measures 44.4 m tall, with a lift off weight of 295 tonnes. PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world and carries 139 tonnes of propellant. A cluster of six strap-ons attached to the first stage motor, four of which are ignited on the ground and two are air-lit.

The reliability rate of PSLV has been superb. There had been 19 continuously successful flights of PSLV, till October 2011 . With its variant configurations, PSLV has proved its multi-payload, multi-mission capability in a single launch and its geosynchronous launch capability. In the Chandrayaan-mission, another variant of PSLV with an extended version of strap-on motors, PSOM-XL, the payload haul was enhanced to 1750 kg in 620 km SSPO. PSLV has rightfully earned the status of workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO.

Typical Parameters of PSLV  Lift-off weight 295 tonne  Pay Load 1600 kg in to 620 km Polar Orbit, 1060 kg in to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)  Height 44 metre

PSLV Milestones

PSLV-C18 launched Megha-Tropiques, SRMSat, VesselSat-1 and Jugnu on October 12, 2011 (Successful) PSLV-C17 launched GSAT - 12 on July 15, 2011 (Successful) PSLV-C16 launched RESOURCESAT - 2, YOUTHSAT and X-SAT on April 20, 2011 (Successful) PSLV-C15 launched CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, NLS 6.1 & 6.2 and STUDSAT on July 12, 2010 (Successful) PSLV-C14 launched Oceansat - 2 and Six Nanosatellites on September 23, 2009 (Successful) PSLV-C12 launched RISAT-2 and ANUSAT on April 20, 2009 (Successfully) PSLV-C11 launched CHANDRAYAAN-I, on October 22, 2008 (Successful) PSLV-C9 launched CARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 and Eight nano-satellites on April 28, 2008 (Successful) PSLV-C10 launched TECSAR on January 23, 2008 (Successful) PSLV-C8 launched AGILE on April 23, 2007 (Successful) PSLV-C7 launched CARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 on January 10, 2007 (Successful) PSLV-C6 launched CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT on May 5, 2005 (Successful) PSLV-C5 launched RESOURCESAT-1(IRS-P6) on October 17, 2003 (Successful) PSLV-C4 launched KALPANA-1(METSAT) on September 12, 2002 (Successful) PSLV-C3 launched TES on October 22, 2001 (Successful) PSLV-C2 launched OCEANSAT(IRS-P4), KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT on May 26, 1999 (Successful) PSLV-C1 launched IRS-1D on September 29, 1997 (Successful) PSLV-D3 launched IRS-P3 on March 21, 1996 (Successful) PSLV-D2 launched IRS-P2 on October 15, 1994 (Successful) PSLV-D1 launched IRS-1E on September 20, 1993 (Unsuccessful) (courtasy: isro.org)