The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday (February 17) launched INSAT-3DS, a satellite that provides accurate weather information. It was launched at 5.35 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The satellite will be launched by GSLV Mk II rocket. In a short time it will be deployed in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) i.e. the upper orbit of the Earth.
This is ISRO’s second mission of 2024 after the launch of PSLV-C58/EXPOSAT mission on 1 January 2024. This will be the 7th flight of INSAT-3D series. The last satellite of this series, INSAT-3DR, was launched on 8 September 2016.
According to ISRO Chairman S Somnath, vibration tests of INSAT-3DS had started from 10 November 2023. It will provide weather related information through 6-channel imager and 19-channel sounder. It will also relay ground data and messages for search and rescue.
Useful for Meteorological Department
The 2274 kg satellite, once operational, will serve various departments under the Earth Sciences, Meteorological Department (IMD), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Weather Forecasting Center and the Indian National Centre.
The 51.7 meter long rocket will carry an imager payload, sounder payload, data relay transponder and satellite aided search and rescue transponder. Which will be used to study clouds, fog, rain, snow and its depth, fire, smoke, land and oceans.
Satellite Created By ISRO
INSAT or Indian National Satellite System was created by ISRO to meet the communication, telecast, meteorology and search and rescue needs of India. This is a series of Jio stationary satellites. It was started in 1983. INSAT is the largest local communication system in the Asia Pacific region.
The satellites are monitored and controlled from main control centers located at Hassan in Karnataka and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Six satellites of this series have been launched so far. The last satellite is INSAT-3DR. It is still working.