ISRO, India’s premier space agency, is gearing up for the launch of its latest meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS in February 2024. The satellite will be the seventh in the INSAT-3D series and will provide enhanced weather forecasting and disaster management services.
Launch details
According to ISRO, INSAT-3DS will be launched on February 17, 2024, using a GSLV Mk II vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite has a launch mass of 2,275 kg and will be placed in a geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km. The satellite was flagged off to SDSC on January 25, 2024, after completing various tests at ISRO Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
Satellite features
INSAT-3DS is a state-of-the-art satellite that will carry a six-channel imager, a 19-channel sounder, a data relay transponder and a search and rescue payload. The imager will provide high-resolution images of the Earth in visible, infrared and water vapour bands. The sounder will provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and ozone in the atmosphere. The data relay transponder will relay meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote and inaccessible areas. The search and rescue payload will assist in locating distress signals from ships, aircrafts and other vehicles.
Satellite benefits
INSAT-3DS will augment the capabilities of the existing INSAT-3D satellites and provide improved weather forecasting and disaster management services. The satellite will monitor cloud patterns, cyclones, thunderstorms, fog, dust storms, snowfall, rainfall and other weather phenomena. It will also provide inputs for numerical weather prediction models, climate studies and environmental monitoring. The satellite will support various sectors such as agriculture, aviation, fisheries, tourism, power generation and water resources management.
ISRO’s achievements
INSAT-3DS is another milestone in ISRO’s achievements in the field of space technology and applications. ISRO has successfully launched six INSAT-3D satellites since 2013, providing vital meteorological services to the country and the region. ISRO has also launched several other satellites for communication, navigation, earth observation, space science and exploration. ISRO is also working on several future missions such as Chandrayaan-3, Gaganyaan, Aditya-L1 and NISAR.