Ariane 5 G | INSAT-3E, eBird 1, SMART-1

INSAT-3A is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological and search & rescue services. INSAT-3A payloads include Normal C-band transponders with expanded coverage from Middle East to South East Asia, Extended C-band transponders providing India coverage and Ku-band transponders providing India coverage. The satellite also carries one Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and one Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) payload. SAS&R payload has a global receive coverage with 406 MHz uplink and C-band downlink with India coverage for the relay of signals from distress beacons in sea, air or land.

The original version is dubbed Ariane 5 G (Generic) and had a launch mass of 737 tonnes. Its payload capability to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) was 6,900 kg (15,200 lb) for a single satellite or 6,100 kg (13,400 lb) for dual launches. It flew 17 times with one failure and two partial failures.

Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.