INSAT-3DS

INSAT-3DS, a weather monitoring and disaster warning satellite, was recently launched by ISRO aboard the GSLV-F14 rocket from Sriharikota.

About INSAT-3DS:

• INSAT-3DS was launched aboard the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle)-F14 rocket from Sriharikota.
  • The GSLV aims at deploying the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• It is fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• The satellite is equipped with advanced features to enhance weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities.
• It joins the operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites, augmenting India’s meteorological services.
• It possesses improved capabilities compared to its predecessors in the INSAT series, namely INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR.
• It is designed to observe various atmospheric parameters, monitor land and ocean surfaces, and provide critical information related to weather, climate, and disaster events.
• Meteorological institutes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, including the India Meteorology Department (IMD) and others, will use the data for weather and climate prediction, timely alerts, and advisories.
• Payloads: The satellite’s advanced payloads include an imager for Earth imaging, a sounder for atmospheric information, and communication payloads for data relay and search and rescue services.

Objectives of the Mission:

• The primary objectives include monitoring Earth’s surface, conducting oceanic observations, and providing a vertical profile of meteorological parameters in the atmosphere.
• The satellite aims to support weather forecasting, disaster response, and satellite-aided search and rescue services.
• It also aims to Improve data collection and dissemination capabilities.

About GSLV-F14:

• The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is a three-stage launch vehicle with a liftoff mass of 420 tonnes and a length of 51.7 meters.
• The first stage (GS1) comprises a solid propellant (S139) motor having 139-ton propellant and four earth-storable propellant stages (L40) strapons which carry 40 tons of liquid propellant in each.
• The second stage (GS2) is a liquid propellant stage with a 40-ton loading.
• The third stage (GS3) is a cryogenic stage with 15 tons of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) propellants.
• The satellite is protected by an Ogive payload fairing during the atmospheric regime.
• GSLV is versatile and can launch spacecraft for communication, navigation, earth resource surveys, and other missions.

Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO):

• A GTO is a type of geocentric orbit that satellites use as an intermediate step to reach their final orbit.
• A GTO is an elliptical orbit used to transfer a satellite from a low Earth orbit (LEO) to a geostationary orbit (GEO).
• A GTO is highly elliptical, with an apoapsis altitude of about 37,000 km.
• Geostationary orbits are characterized by satellites orbiting the Earth at the same rate as the Earth’s rotation, appearing stationary relative to a fixed point on the Earth’s surface.

How to achieve GTO:

• To achieve a GTO, a satellite is launched into a low Earth orbit using a launch vehicle.
• Once in LEO, the satellite performs a series of orbital maneuvers, including a transfer burn at the perigee of the orbit, to raise its apogee to the desired geostationary altitude.
• Finally, a circularization burn is performed at the apogee to circularize the orbit and place the satellite in a geostationary orbit.

Future Mission – NISAR:

• ISRO’s upcoming mission is the launch of the NISAR satellite, a collaborative effort with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the United States.
• NISAR, short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, will observe Earth’s surface dynamics, including seismic activities, and track changes in forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands.

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