INSAT-1C
| Company type | Satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Communications satellite |
| Founded | July 21, 1988 |
| Founder | Ford Aerospace |
| Headquarters | India |
| Products | Communication services, meteorological data, terrestrial data channel |
| Parent | Indian Space Research Organisation (implied) |
INSAT-1C represented the third installment in the initial generation of INSAT satellites, engineered by Ford Aerospace to address India's internal communication requirements. Principal governmental beneficiaries included All India Radio, Doordarshan, the Department of Space, and the Indian Meteorological Department.
Launch
On July 21, 1988, INSAT-1C was deployed from the Guiana Space Centre located in Kourou, utilizing an Ariane 3 launch vehicle. The satellite's mass at liftoff was , and it was designed for a service duration of seven years. Its designated orbital slot was geostationary at 93.5° East longitude.
Payloads
Equipped with three primary payloads, the satellite facilitated communication functions for the Indian Meteorological Department, Department of Telecommunications, and Department of Space:
- Very High Resolution scanning Radiometer (VHRR)
- A set of 12 transponders handling uplink and downlink operations
- A data channel dedicated to terrestrial applications
Mission
The mission of INSAT-1C extended successfully over approximately 13 years. Following an enhancement to its power system, the satellite's capabilities were increased by incorporating 6 additional C-band and 2 S-band transponders.