The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on saturday flagged off its meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota.
Scheduled to be launched onboard GSLV F14, the satellite represents a collaborative effort between ISRO and the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), with Indian industries playing a significant role in its development.
The satellite's journey to the SDSC-SHAR launch port in Andhra Pradesh commenced on January 25, accompanied by a Pre-Shipment Review (PSR) involving members from the user community.
Constructed around ISRO's I-2k bus platform, the INSAT-3DS boasts a lift-off mass of 2,275 kg. The satellite underwent rigorous assembly, integration, and testing activities at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, culminating in its journey to the launch site. Sources within ISRO have hinted at a mid-February launch date for the satellite.
According to ISRO, INSAT-3DS is designed to provide continuity of services to the existing INSAT-3D and 3DR satellites while significantly enhancing the capabilities of the INSAT system. It is equipped with state-of-the-art payloads, including a 6-channel Imager, 19-channel Sounder meteorology payloads, and communication payloads such as the Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and Satellite-aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder.
The DRT instrument is positioned to receive meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic data from automatic Data Collection Platforms or Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), augmenting weather forecasting capabilities. Meanwhile, the SAS&R transponder will play a crucial role in relaying distress signals or alert detections from beacon transmitters, facilitating search and rescue services with global coverage.
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