INSAT-2E
Encyclopedia
INSAT-2E is an India
n geostationary communications
and weather satellite
which is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation
as part of the Indian National Satellite System
. It is positioned in geostationary orbit
at a longitude
of 83° East, from where it is used to provide communications services to Asia
and Australia
. It also carries two meteorological instruments; the Very High Resolution Radiometer, and a CCD camera capable of returning images with a resolution of one kilometre.
The communications payload aboard INSAT-2E consists of seventeen G/H band (IEEE C band) transponder
s. At launch the satellite had a mass of 2550 kilograms (5,621.8 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of 12 years Some of its transponders are leased to Intelsat
, who operate them under the designation Intelsat APR-2.
INSAT-2E was launched by Arianespace
, using an Ariane 42P
carrier rocket flying from ELA-2
at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch occurred at 22:03 GMT on 2 April 1999. Following launch, it raised itself into geostationary orbit
using liquid-fuelled apogee motor. Its final insertion burn occurred at 07:38 GMT on 8 April. Following insertion, it was positioned at a longitude
of 83° East.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n geostationary communications
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
and weather satellite
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
which is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
as part of the Indian National Satellite System
Indian National Satellite System
INSAT or the Indian National Satellite System is a series of multipurpose Geo-stationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations....
. It is positioned in geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
at a longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
of 83° East, from where it is used to provide communications services to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It also carries two meteorological instruments; the Very High Resolution Radiometer, and a CCD camera capable of returning images with a resolution of one kilometre.
The communications payload aboard INSAT-2E consists of seventeen G/H band (IEEE C band) transponder
Transponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
s. At launch the satellite had a mass of 2550 kilograms (5,621.8 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of 12 years Some of its transponders are leased to Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
, who operate them under the designation Intelsat APR-2.
INSAT-2E was launched by Arianespace
Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....
, using an Ariane 42P
Ariane 4
Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and manufactured and marketed by its subsidiary Arianespace. Ariane 4 was justly known as the ‘workhorse’ of the Ariane family. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the last, on 15 February 2003, it...
carrier rocket flying from ELA-2
ELA-2
ELA-2, short for Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2 , was a launch pad at the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana. It was used by Arianespace for all 116 Ariane 4 launches between 1988 and 2003. Following the retirement of the Ariane 4 in favour of the Ariane 5, ELA-2 was deactivated...
at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch occurred at 22:03 GMT on 2 April 1999. Following launch, it raised itself into geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
using liquid-fuelled apogee motor. Its final insertion burn occurred at 07:38 GMT on 8 April. Following insertion, it was positioned at a longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
of 83° East.