KellyePoindexter at 20:26, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T20:26:09Z

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{{Short description|Indian communications satellite, 2003–2014}}
{{No footnotes|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = INSAT-3E
| image = insat3e.jpg
| image_caption =
| mission_type = [[Communications satellite|Communications]]
| operator = [[INSAT]]
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 2003-047E
| SATCAT = 27951
| mission_duration = 10 years, 5 months, 5 days
| spacecraft_bus = [[I-2K]]
| manufacturer = [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]
| launch_mass = {{convert|2775|kg|lb}}
| power = 2,400 watts
| dry_mass = {{convert|1218|kg|lb}}
| dimensions = {{convert|2.0|*|1.77|*|2.8|m|ft}}
| launch_date = {{start-date|27 September 2003, 23:14:46|timezone=yes}} UTC<ref name="launchlog">{{cite web|url=https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref>
| launch_rocket = [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5G]] V162
| launch_site = [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] [[ELA-3]]
| launch_contractor = [[Arianespace]]
| disposal_type = Moved to a graveyard orbit
| deactivated = 
| orbit_epoch = 30 October 2013, 02:33:58 UTC<ref name="n2yo">{{cite web|url=https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=27951|title=INSAT 3E Satellite details 2003-043E NORAD 27951|work=N2YO|date=30 October 2013|access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref>
| orbit_reference = [[Geosynchronous orbit|Geosynchronous]]
| orbit_regime = [[geostationary orbit|Geostationary]] (''till 2014'')<br /> [[graveyard orbit|Graveyard Orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35764|km|mi}} (''till 2014'')
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35819|km|mi}} (''till 2014'')
| orbit_inclination = 0.06 degrees
| orbit_period = 23.93 hours
| orbit_longitude = 55° east (''till 2014'')
| trans_band = 24 [[C band (IEEE)|C band]]<br />12 [[Extended C band]]
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_EIRP =
| trans_HPBW =
| programme = [[Indian National Satellite System|INSAT]]
| previous_mission = [[INSAT-3DS]]
| next_mission = [[INSAT-4A]]
}}
'''INSAT 3E''' is a defunct [[communication satellite]] built by [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]. It was launched on September 28, 2003, from the [[European Space Agency]]'s spaceport in [[French Guiana]] on board the [[Ariane rocket]]. The satellite had a launch mass of 2750 kilograms. It is the 4th satellite launched in the INSAT-3 series for [[INSAT]]. It was designed for providing high-speed communication, [[Television]], [[VSAT]] & Tele-education services and was an important landmark in Indian Space Programme.

In April 2014, almost eleven years after being launched, the satellite ran out of oxidizer and a few days later, was decommissioned by the ISRO. A few days later, it was moved into a [[graveyard orbit]].<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/after-10-years-in-orbit-insat3e-expires/article5859974.ece|title=After 10 years in orbit, INSAT-3E expires|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 April 2014|last1=S|first1=Madhumathi D.}}</ref>

== Launch ==
INSAT 3E was launched from [[Kourou]], French Guiana on September 28, 2003, on European consortium Ariane space's Ariane 5-V162 launcher along with two other satellites viz. [[Eurobird 3]] of [[Eutelsat]] and [[SMART-1]] of European Space Agency at 4.44 am IST.It was placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 30 minutes after the lift-off, in 3-axis stabilised mode, with a perigee of 649 km and an apogee of 35,923 km and an inclination of 7 deg. with respect to the equator. Its [[Master Control Facility|master control facility]] is at [[Hassan, India|Hassan]], Karnataka (India).

== Payload ==
INSAT 3E payload consists of C-band and extended C-band transponders. It has 24 [[C band (IEEE)|C-band]] transponders, having India beam coverage providing an Edge Of Coverage-[[Equivalent isotropically radiated power|Effective Isotropic Radiated Power]] (EOC-EIRP) of 38.5 dBW and 12 upper extended C-band transponders having India beam coverage providing an EOC-EIRP of 38 dBW.

==Retirement==

On April 1, 2014, [[Dr. K. Radhakrishnan]], while speaking to the Indian English newspaper "[[The Hindu]]", said that INSAT 3E had been decommissioned. The newspaper reported that a few days before, the satellite had run out of the on-board oxidizer, which is essential to burn the fuel that kept it Earth-locked (fixed over India) and running its daily functions. The ISRO had apparently expected that the satellite, positioned at 55 degrees E longitude, would last a few more months and that it would be smoothly replaced with [[GSAT-16]]. The Master Control Facility at Hassan moved the expired satellite into a [[graveyard orbit]] a few days after.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>

== Services ==
* Television
* VSAT
* Communication
* Tele-education providing education to the poor and needy
* Tele-medicine administering medical services from the metros to villages & remote areas

== References ==
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asia.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=12658 |title=INSAT-3E Launched successfully | SpaceRef Asia - Space News and Reference |access-date=2010-12-22 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701140726/http://asia.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=12658 |archive-date=2012-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flysat.com/insat83.php |title=FlySat G-Sat 10 - Insat 4A @ 83° East |access-date=2010-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728230150/http://www.flysat.com/insat83.php |archive-date=2017-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092300981300.htm |title=The Hindu : INSAT 3E will take tally to 128 transponders |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040101065842/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092300981300.htm |archive-date=1 January 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/insat-3e.htm|title = Insat 3E}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=27951|title = Satbeams - World of Satellites at your fingertips}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=25015 |title=Communication satellite Insat-3E launched - Express India |website=www.expressindia.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011031130/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=25015 |archive-date=2012-10-11}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tracksat.com/satellite11.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626045043/http://www.tracksat.com/satellite11.html |archive-date=June 26, 2009 | title=TrackSat: Insat 3E @ 55° East}}</ref>
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [http://www.isro.org ISRO website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205151510/http://www.isro.org/ |date=2012-02-05 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180518050953/http://www.antrix.gov.in/ Commercial arm of ISRO]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101215062429/http://dst.gov.in/stsysindia/space.htm Deptt. of Space Under Deptt. Of Science & Tech., Government Of India]

{{INSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 2003}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Insat-3e}}
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2003]]
[[Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit]]
[[Category:Satellite Internet access]]
[[Category:Satellite television]]
[[Category:INSAT satellites]]
[[Category:2003 in India]]

INSAT-3E - Revision history

KellyePoindexter at 20:26, 3 March 2026