INSAT-2D was an Indian

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Ear ...

. Launched on 4 June 1997, and similar to INSAT-2C, INSAT-2D went out of order on October 4, 1997, because of a power inconsistency problem and was later replaced by INSAT-2DT, an in-orbit satellite which was previously known as ARABSAT-1C. The main aim of the satellite was improved communication. In the INSAT-2 (

Indian National Satellite System The Indian National Satellite System or INSAT, is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations. Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is ...

) series, INSAT-2D was the fourth consecutive communication satellite. The satellite was launched using an

Ariane 4 The Ariane 4 was a European expendable rocket, expendable space launch system, developed by the ''CNES, Centre national d'études spatiales'' (CNES), the Government of France, French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was man ...

rocket from

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...

. The satellite was placed into geostationary orbit at an inclination of 93.5 degrees east. INSAT-2D's lift-off mass was with

propellant A propellant (or propellent) is a mass that is expelled or expanded in such a way as to create a thrust or other motive force in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, and "propel" a vehicle, projectile, or fluid payload. In vehicles, the ...

s of which were the dry weight. The satellite was expected to have a nominal lifespan of around 7–9 years. The onboard power of the satellite was estimated to be 1,650 watts. Its communication payload consisted of 16C-band

transponder In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''. In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a flight trans ...

s (extended C-band, for

fixed-satellite service Fixed-satellite service (short: FSS | also: fixed-satellite radiocommunication service) is – according to ''article 1.21'' of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) – defined as ''A radiocommunication s ...

), two high-power C-band transponders (for

broadcasting-satellite service Broadcasting-satellite service (short: BSS | also: ''broadcasting-satellite radiocommunication service '') is – according to ''Article 1.39'' of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) – defined as ''«A ...

, BSS), one S-band transponder (for BSS), one C/S-band mobile communication transponder, and three K_u-band transponders.

References

{{Orbital launches in 1997 INSAT satellites Spacecraft launched in 1997 1997 in India 1997 in spaceflight Derelict satellites orbiting Earth