INSAT-2DT
{{Short description|Decommissioned Indian geostationary communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Arabsat-1C → INSAT-2DT
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = Communication
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 1992-010B
| SATCAT = 21894
| mission_duration = 7 years (planned)
12¾ years (achieved)
| spacecraft_bus = Spacebus 100
| manufacturer = Aérospatiale/MBB
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|1360|kg}}
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|26 February 1992, 23:58:10|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = Ariane 44L
| launch_contractor = Arianespace
| entered_service =
| disposal_type = Decommissioned
| deactivated = {{end-date|October 2004}}
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Geostationary
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination =
| orbit_period = 24 hours
| orbit_longitude = 31° East
55° East
82.5° East
| orbit_slot =
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = 2 E/F-band
25 G/H-Band
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_EIRP =
| trans_HPBW =
}}
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,{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/project/arabsat.htm |title=Arabsat |last=Wade |first=Mark |publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica |access-date=2009-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331213805/http://www.astronautix.com/project/arabsat.htm |archive-date=2009-03-31 }} 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 {{convert|1170|kg}}, and an expected operational lifespan of seven years.{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/arabsat-1a.htm |title=Arabsat 1A, 1B, 1C / Insat 2DT |last=Krebs |first=Gunter |publisher=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=2009-07-05}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt |title=Launch Log |last=McDowell |first=Jonathan |publisher=Jonathan's Space Page |access-date=2009-07-05}} It was the final Spacebus 100 satellite to be launched.
Indian operations
In November 1997, Arabsat-1C was sold to India as INSAT-2DT.{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_arabsat_1c.html |title=Arabsat 1C |publisher=TSE |access-date=2009-07-05}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_insat_2d.html |title=INSAT-2D |publisher=TSE |access-date=2009-07-05}} It remained at 55°E until August 2003, when it was moved to 85.2°E, arriving in November.{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_insat_2r.html |title=INSAT-2R |publisher=TSE |access-date=2009-07-05}} 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.
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{INSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 1992}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 1992
Category:Derelict satellites orbiting Earth
Category:Satellites using the Spacebus bus