India’s Space – Insat 3B
Technical Data
| Stamp Set | India's Space Programme |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | September 29, 2000 |
| Denomination | Rs. 3 |
| Quantity | 3000000 |
| Perforation | comb 13½ x 13 |
| Printer | Calcutta Security Printers Ltd |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Multicolor |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 1783 Stamp Number IN 1848 Yvert et Tellier IN 1549 Stanley Gibbons IN 1952 |
| Themes | Outer Space | Satellites | Space Traveling | |
Table of Contents
INSAT-3B: India’s Space Program
Overview:
INSAT-3B, launched by ISRO in 2000, is part of the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system, one of the world’s largest domestic communication satellite systems. INSAT-3B was designed to provide enhanced telecommunications, television broadcasting, and data transmission services across India, benefiting both urban and rural areas.
Key Features of INSAT-3B:
- Mission Objective:
- The primary objective of INSAT-3B is to provide telecommunications, television broadcasting, and VSAT services (Very Small Aperture Terminal) for tele-education and telemedicine.
- It also supports business communication and internet services, contributing significantly to India’s growing demand for communication infrastructure.
- Payloads:
- C-band and Extended C-band Transponders: Provide expanded capacity for television broadcasting and telecommunications.
- Ku-band Transponders: Used for VSAT-based networks, including business communication and rural telecommunication services.
- Applications:
- Telecommunication Services: INSAT-3B enhanced the telecom network in India, providing reliable long-distance communication links across the country, including remote areas.
- Television Broadcasting: It expanded India’s TV broadcasting capabilities, connecting millions of households to satellite television services.
- Telemedicine and Tele-education: Through VSAT services, INSAT-3B enabled rural and remote healthcare services via telemedicine, and provided education through satellite-based distance learning.
- Internet Services: The satellite also helped provide internet connectivity in underserved areas, contributing to the bridging of the digital divide in India.
- Significance in India’s Space Program:
- INSAT-3B is part of the INSAT-3 series, which represents a new generation of more advanced communication satellites with higher capacity and improved reliability.
- It marked a major step in ensuring that communication technologies reach even the most remote corners of India, playing a key role in national development.
Technical Specifications:
- Launch Date: March 22, 2000
- Launch Vehicle: Ariane-5 from Kourou, French Guiana
- Orbit: Geostationary orbit, ensuring continuous coverage over India and the surrounding regions.
International Cooperation:
- INSAT-3B’s services have benefitted not only India but also neighboring countries, supporting regional communication networks and enhancing international cooperation in satellite communications.
Commemorative Stamp:
A commemorative stamp celebrating INSAT-3B would likely depict the satellite in geostationary orbit, with rays symbolizing the communication links it provides across India. The stamp would emphasize the satellite’s role in connecting people and improving telecommunication and broadcasting infrastructure.
INSAT-3B serves as a cornerstone in India’s communication network, enabling advancements in technology, education, healthcare, and business, particularly for remote and rural regions of the country.