INSAT-3DS, a meteorological satellite developed by ISRO Bharat, is intended to provide continuity of services to the existing in-orbit INSAT-3D and 3DR satellites and significantly enhance the capabilities of the INSAT system, it will be launched on board the GSLV F14. It was flagged off at the SDSC-SHAR launch port on January 25, 2024. But due to some reason, the launch could not take place. So ISRO’s ‘naughty boy’ rocket is to launch Bharat’s latest weather satellite today 17th February, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 5.35 pm on Saturday.
Pre-shipment review (PSR) of the INSAT-3DS satellite was conducted only on January 25, 2024.
The satellite is a user-funded project with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of Bharat, configured around ISRO’s I-2k bus platform with a lift-off mass of 2275 kg. Bharatiya Industries has also made an important contribution to the manufacturing of this satellite under Make in Bharat.
Its main features will be –
- INSAT-3DS is a third-generation weather satellite mission to be placed in geostationary orbit.
- It is designed to monitor land and ocean surfaces for weather observation, forecasting, and disaster warning.
- In its 16th mission, GSLV aims to deploy INSAT-3DS meteorological satellites in geosynchronous satellite orbit.
- The orbit monitoring vehicle will then ensure that the satellite is placed in geostationary orbit.
- It is designed for better weather observation and monitoring of land and sea surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning.
- This satellite will enhance meteorological services with the currently operating INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites.
So you can understand that the satellite is designed for advanced meteorological observations and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, distress signals from beacon transmitters for search and rescue services with global received coverage. The satellite is equipped with a Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder to provide warning detection.
Source: ISRO
