CleanupBot II at 01:23, 14 August 2023

2023-08-14T01:23:37Z

New page

{{Infobox spaceflight
| name =INSAT 1A
| image =
| image_caption =

| mission_type = [[Communications satellite|Communications]]
| operator = [[INSAT]]
| COSPAR_ID = 1982-031A
| SATCAT = 131300
| mission_duration = 7 years planned<br/>5 months achieved

| spacecraft_type = [[INSAT]]-1
| manufacturer = [[Ford Aerospace]]
| launch_mass = {{convert|1152|kg|lb}}
| dry_mass =
| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|10 April 1982, 06:47|timezone=yes}} UTC<ref name="launchlog">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>
| launch_rocket = [[Delta 3000|Delta 3910]]/[[Payload Assist Module|PAM-D]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|LC-17A]]
| launch_contractor = [[NASA]]
| entered_service =

| disposal_type =Abandoned
| deactivated = {{end-date|6 September 1982}}

| orbit_epoch = 10 November 2013, 12:38:56 UTC<ref name="n2yo">{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=13129|title=INSAT 1A Satellite details 1982-031A NORAD 13129|work=N2YO|date=10 November 2013|access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Geostationary orbit|Geostationary]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35734|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35841|km|mi}}
| orbit_inclination = 14.59 degrees
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|42158.98|km|mi}}
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.0012778
| orbit_period = 23.93 hours
| orbit_longitude = 74° east
| apsis = gee
}}
'''INSAT-1A''' was an [[India]]n [[communications satellite]] which formed part of the [[Indian National Satellite System]]. Launched in 1982, it was operated in [[geostationary orbit]] at a longitude of 74° east.<ref name="GSP"/> Following a series of failures, the satellite was abandoned in September 1982, less than 6 months into a seven-year mission.

Built by [[Ford Aerospace]] and operated by the [[Indian National Satellite System]],<ref name="GSP" /> INSAT-1A was based upon a custom [[satellite bus]] developed for the [[INSAT]]-1 series. It had a mass at launch of {{convert|1152|kg}}, and was expected to operate for 7 years. The spacecraft carried 12 [[C band (IEEE)|C]] and 3 [[S band]] transponders, powered by a single [[solar array]].<ref name="GSP">{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/insat-1a.htm|title=Insat 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

[[NASA]] was contracted to launch INSAT-1A using a [[Delta 3000|Delta 3910]] rocket with a [[Payload Assist Module|PAM-D]] upper stage. The launch occurred at 06:47 UTC on 10 April 1982, from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|Launch Complex 17A]] at [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]].<ref name="launchlog"/> The satellite was successfully inserted into [[geosynchronous transfer orbit]], from which it raised itself into [[geostationary orbit]]. It received the [[International Designator]] 1982-031A and [[Satellite Catalog Number]] 13129.<ref name="satcat">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

Following launch, INSAT-1A had some initial problems deploying its antennas, solar array and stabilisation boom.<ref name="SSF302">{{cite book|last=Harland|first=David M|author2=Lorenz, Ralph D.|title=Space Systems Failures|publisher=Springer-Praxis|location=Chichester|year=2005|edition=2006|isbn=0-387-21519-0|pages=302–3}}</ref> The C-band antenna could not be deployed for twelve days, and the solar array failed to extend fully, preventing the spacecraft generating enough power to conduct weather observation. The satellite's S-band transponders subsequently overheated and failed.<ref name="SSF234">{{cite book|last=Harland|first=David M|author2=Lorenz, Ralph D.|title=Space Systems Failures|publisher=Springer-Praxis|location=Chichester|year=2005|edition=2006|isbn=0-387-21519-0|page=234}}</ref> The stabilisation boom failed to deploy altogether.

Early in the satellite's mission a fault in a valve in its attitude control system was detected which caused the spacecraft to expend propellant at a greater rate than expected. On 4 September 1982 the satellite's primary earth-tracking sensor was temporarily deactivated to protect the system while the sun passed through its field of view. Owing to the failure of the stabilisation boom, the backup sensor was not oriented in the correct direction, instead being oriented towards the moon, which overloaded it and shut down the sensor. The satellite exhausted its remaining propellant supply trying to regain earth-lock, and was abandoned on 6 September.<ref name="SSF302"/><ref name="SSF234"/> Due to the sudden nature of its failure, INSAT-1A was not removed from geosynchronous orbit. As of 10 November 2013 it is in an orbit with a [[apsis|perigee]] of {{convert|35734|km|mi}}, an [[apsis|apogee]] of {{convert|35841|km|mi}}, [[orbital inclination|inclination]] of 14.59 degrees and an [[orbital period]] of 23.93 hours.<ref name="n2yo"/>

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{INSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 1982}}

[[Category:INSAT satellites]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 in India]]
[[Category:Derelict satellites orbiting Earth]]

INSAT-1A - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 01:23, 14 August 2023