ISRO’s major 2024 mission: INSAT-3DS set to launch on this date; Details

Note the date

According to ISRO, the launch of its meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS is slated for February 17. This satellite is expected to improve meteorological observations and aid in improved weather forecasting and disaster warning. This is ISRO’s inaugural space mission for 2024. “The launch of the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission is set for Saturday, February 17, at 5:30 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota,” stated ISRO.

INSAT-3DS: What is it?

Aboard the Geosynchronous spacecraft Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV F14), the spacecraft will be launched. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the primary funding source for the INSAT-3DS satellite, which is a follow-on mission of a third generation meteorological satellite to be deployed in geostationary orbit.

Improved prediction and mechanism

During its sixteenth mission, the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) satellite deployment is the goal of the GSLV. The satellite will be placed in a geostationary orbit by more orbit-raising maneuvers, according to the space agency. According to ISRO, the satellite’s purpose is to monitor land and ocean surfaces for improved meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and disaster warning.

Mission goals

As per ISRO, the principal goals of the mission are to observe the surface of the planet, conduct studies of the ocean and its surroundings in several spectral channels that are significant for meteorology,

• deliver the vertical profile of several atmospheric meteorological characteristics; 
• provide the ability to gather and distribute data via Data Collection Platforms (DCPs); 
• offer satellite-assisted search and rescue services.

IMD and others will make use of

In order to improve weather forecasts and meteorological services, a number of MoES departments, including the India Meteorology Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), and other agencies and institutes, will be utilizing INSAT-3DS satellite data.