Arabsat-1C → INSAT-2DT
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorArabsat → INSAT
COSPAR ID1992-010B
SATCAT no.21894
Mission duration7 years (planned)
12¾ years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
BusSpacebus 100
ManufacturerAérospatiale/MBB[1]
Launch mass1,360 kilograms (3,000 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date26 February 1992, 23:58:10 (1992-02-26UTC23:58:10Z) UTC
RocketAriane 44L
Launch siteKourou ELA-2
ContractorArianespace
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedOctober 2004 (2004-11)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude31° East
55° East
82.5° East
Period24 hours
Transponders
Band2 E/F-band
25 G/H-Band
 

INSAT-2DT, previously Arabsat-1C and also known as INSAT-2R, was a Saudi Arabian and subsequently Indian communications satellite which was operated initially by Arabsat, and then by the Indian National Satellite System.

Launch and Arabsat service

Launched in 1992 as Arabsat-1C, it was operated at 31° East longitude in geostationary orbit,[2] from where it was used to provide communication services to the Arab States. It was constructed by Aérospatiale, based on the Spacebus 100 satellite bus, and carried two NATO E/F-band (IEEE S band) and 25 NATO G/H-Band (IEEE C band) transponders. At launch, it had a mass of 1,170 kilograms (2,580 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of seven years.[1]

It was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 4 rocket in the 44L configuration, flying from ELA-2 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. The launch took place at 22:58:10 UTC on 26 February 1992.[3] It was the final Spacebus 100 satellite to be launched.

Indian operations

In November 1997, Arabsat-1C was sold to India as INSAT-2DT.[4] In December, it was moved to a new slot at 55°E longitude, where it replaced the INSAT-2D satellite which had failed in orbit.[5] It remained at 55°E until August 2003, when it was moved to 85.2°E, arriving in November.[6] By the time of its departure from 55°E, its orbital inclination had increased somewhat.

INSAT-2DT remained at 85.2°E until October 2004, when it was retired from service and placed into a graveyard orbit.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "Arabsat 1A, 1B, 1C / Insat 2DT". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Arabsat". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  3. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  4. ↑ "Arabsat 1C". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  5. ↑ "INSAT-2D". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  6. 1 2 "INSAT-2R". TSE. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
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