India’s oceanic observations are set to get a major boost with the launch of INSAT-3DS, a state-of-the-art meteorological satellite, on February 17, 2024. The satellite will work in conjunction with the existing INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites, augmenting the meteorological services provided by these predecessors.
ISRO’s Mission Objectives and Launch Details
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch the INSAT-3DS satellite on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 17:30 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota. The satellite will be carried by the GSLV-F14 rocket, which is a three-stage launch vehicle with four liquid strap-on boosters. The mission will mark the 14th flight of GSLV and the fourth flight with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage.
The primary objective of the mission is to enhance meteorological observations and monitor land and ocean surfaces, thereby improving weather forecasting and disaster warning systems. The secondary objectives are to support data relay and search and rescue operations.
The satellite will be injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by GSLV-F14 and will undergo subsequent orbit-raising maneuvers to position itself in a Geostationary Orbit (GEO) at 82° East longitude. It will have an orbital life of about seven years.
INSAT-3DS Satellite Features and Benefits
The INSAT-3DS is engineered to enhance meteorological observations and monitor land and ocean surfaces, thereby improving weather forecasting and disaster warning systems. It has a lift-off mass of about 2,250 kg and carries two payloads: a six-channel Imager and a 19-channel Sounder. The Imager will provide high-resolution images of the Earth in visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, water vapour and thermal infrared bands. The Sounder will provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and ozone in the atmosphere.
The satellite also carries a Data Relay Transponder (DRT) for receiving meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote and uninhabited areas, and a Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) Transponder for relaying distress signals from users in distress to the Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC).
The INSAT-3DS is expected to contribute significantly to more accurate weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities, thereby improving disaster preparedness across the nation. It will also support various applications such as agriculture, fisheries, water resources management, urban development, environmental monitoring and climate studies.
The INSAT-3DS is the latest addition to ISRO’s illustrious fleet of satellites that have been serving the nation for over four decades. It is funded entirely by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a part of the INSAT-3 series of satellites that were initiated in 2013.
Recent Blog : Micellar Water: What It Is and Its Mechanism