The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of its weather satellite INSAT-3DS aboard the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F14, colloquially known as the 'naughty boy' due to its inconsistent track record.
Scheduled to take off at 5.35 pm on Saturday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, ISRO initiated the countdown for the launch on Thursday, signaling the imminent mission.
The GSLV-F14 mission marks the rocket's 16th overall flight and its 10th utilizing the domestically developed cryogenic engine. Its success holds significant importance as it is slated to carry the Earth observation satellite NISAR later this year, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO.
Despite its nickname, the GSLV-F14 is a pivotal component of India's space endeavors. Standing at 51.7 meters long and boasting a liftoff mass of 420 tonnes, this three-stage rocket has played a crucial role in various missions. However, its journey has not been without hurdles, with four out of the 15 GSLV launches encountering setbacks, as reported by the Indian Express.
In contrast, ISRO's PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) has seen success in 57 out of 60 missions, while its successor, LVM-3, has yet to experience a failure in its seven launches.
The upcoming launch aims to deploy INSAT-3DS, a state-of-the-art weather satellite designed to bolster India's weather and climate monitoring capabilities. Costing approximately ₹480 crore, INSAT-3DS is a third-generation upgraded meteorological satellite weighing 2,274 kg.
Funded entirely by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, this satellite represents a significant investment in advancing India's space-based weather forecasting infrastructure.
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