ISRO to launch meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS on February 17

ISRO on Thursday said that the launch of its meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS, which will enhance meteorological observations and help in better weather forecasting and disaster warning, is scheduled for February 17.

The satellite will be launched onboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV F14).

The INSAT-3DS satellite is a follow-on mission of a third generation meteorological satellite to be placed in geostationary orbit, and it is fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

”The launch of the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission is set for Saturday, February 17, at 5:30pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota,” ISRO said.

In its 16th mission, the GSLV aims to deploy the satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Subsequent orbit-raising manoeuvres will ensure that the satellite is positioned in a geostationary orbit, the space agency said.

The satellite is designed to make enhanced meteorological observations and monitor land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, the space agency said. The satellite will augment meteorological services along with the presently operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites, it added, stating that Indian industries have significantly contributed to the making of the satellite.

According to ISRO, the primary objectives of the mission are: to monitor earth’s surface, carry out oceanic observations and its environment in various spectral channels of meteorological importance, to provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere, to provide data collection and data dissemination capabilities from the Data Collection Platforms (DCPs), and to provide Satellite Aided Search and Rescue services.

These will be achieved through the satellite’s payloads such as six channel imager, 19 channel sounder, Data Relay Transponder (DRT), and Satellite Aided Search & Rescue transponder (SAS&R).

Many departments of the MoES such as the India Meteorology Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and other agencies and institutes will be using the INSAT-3DS satellite data to provide improved weather forecasts and meteorological services.

Giving details about the launch vehicle, ISRO said that the GSLV is a three-stage, 51.7 m long vehicle with a liftoff mass of 420 tonnes. The first stage (GS1) comprises a solid propellant (S139) motor containing 139 tons of propellant and four earth-storable propellant stage (L40) strap-ons which carry 40 tons of liquid propellant in each.

The second stage (GS2) is also an earth-storable propellant stage loaded with 40-ton propellant. The third stage (GS3) is a cryogenic stage with a 15-ton propellant loading of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2). During the atmospheric regime, the satellite is protected by Ogive payload fairing, ISRO said. GSLV can be used to launch a variety of spacecraft capable of performing earth resource surveys, communications, navigation, and any other proprietary missions.