ISRO announced on Friday that the countdown has begun for the launch of INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite aboard a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle. The GSLV-F14, in its 16th mission, is scheduled to lift off at 5:35 pm on Saturday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
INSAT-3DS is a follow-up mission of the third generation meteorological satellite intended for placement in a geostationary orbit. It is fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. ISRO stated, “GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS Mission: The 27.5-hour countdown leading to the launch on February 17, 2024, at 17:35 hrs has commenced.” This marks the second mission for the Bengaluru-based space agency in 2024 following the successful launch of PSLV-C58/EXPOSAT mission on January 1.
The objective of the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission on Saturday is to ensure continuity of services provided by existing operational INSAT-3D (launched in 2013) and INSAT-3DR (September 2016) satellites. This includes enhanced meteorological observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, and Satellite-aided Research and Rescue services (SAR), among others. Once operational, the 2,274 kg satellite will serve various departments under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, including the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.
The 51.7-meter tall rocket will carry imager payloads, sounder payloads, data relay transponders, and Satellite Aided Search and Rescue transponders for studying cloud properties, fog, rainfall, snow cover, snow depth, fire, smoke, land, and ocean, among other applications. ISRO noted that the imager and sounder payloads in this mission are similar to those carried by INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR, with significant improvements in radiometric performances. The development of the satellite has seen significant contributions from various industries.
Approximately 20 minutes after liftoff, scientists aim to deploy the INSAT-3DS satellite into a Geoynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Subsequently, they will undertake orbit-raising maneuvers to position the satellite into a Geo-stationary Orbit, which is expected to occur within a couple of days.
