IN NEWS: GSLV-F14 / INSAT-3DS Mission
Introduction
The GSLV-F14 / INSAT-3DS mission was successfully accomplished on 17 February 2024 at 17:30 hrs IST from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch vehicle successfully placed the INSAT-3DS satellite into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Thereafter, orbit-raising manoeuvres were to place the satellite into Geostationary Orbit.
About GSLV-F14
GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) is a three-stage launch vehicle. It is 51.7 m long and has a lift-off mass of 420 tonnes.
Stages of GSLV
- First Stage (GS1):
- Solid propellant motor S139
- Contains 139-ton propellant
- Supported by four L40 earth-storable liquid strap-ons
- Each strap-on carries 40 tons of liquid propellant
- Second Stage (GS2):
- Earth-storable propellant stage
- Loaded with 40-ton propellant
- Third Stage (GS3):
- Cryogenic stage
- Contains 15-ton propellant
- Uses:
- Liquid Oxygen (LOX)
- Liquid Hydrogen (LH2)
Other Feature
- During atmospheric flight, the satellite is protected by an Ogive payload fairing
Utility of GSLV
GSLV can launch different spacecraft meant for:
- Communication
- Navigation
- Earth resource surveys
- Other proprietary missions
About INSAT-3DS
INSAT-3DS is a follow-on mission of the third generation meteorological satellite from Geostationary Orbit. The mission is fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).It is designed for:
- Enhanced meteorological observations
- Monitoring of land and ocean surfaces
- Weather forecasting
- Disaster warning
It will augment meteorological services together with the already operational:
The input also notes that Indian industries significantly contributed to the making of the satellite.
User Agencies and Institutional Use
The satellite data will be used by different departments and institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), including:
- India Meteorological 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)
- Other agencies and institutes
These bodies will use INSAT-3DS data for:
- Improved weather forecasts
- Better meteorological services
Primary Objectives of the Mission
The mission has four primary objectives:
- To monitor Earth’s surface
- To carry out oceanic observations and study its environment in various spectral channels of meteorological importance
- To provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere
- To provide Data Collection and Data Dissemination capabilities from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs)
- To provide Satellite Aided Search and Rescue services
Payloads and Satellite Features
Payloads
INSAT-3DS carries the following payloads:
- 6 channel Imager
- 19 channel Sounder
- Data Relay Transponder (DRT)
- Satellite Aided Search & Rescue transponder (SAS&R)
Mission Type
- Meteorological services
- Data relay
- Satellite Aided Search & Rescue services
Orbit
Structure
Thermal System
- Passive and active thermal control system
- Bi-annual yaw flip to reduce thermal load on passive coolers
Power System
- 42 V sunlit regulated single bus
- Power generation: 1505 W (Equinox)
- I-2k solar panels
- Li-Ion 100 Ah battery for eclipse support
Launch Vehicle Interface
- GSLV with 4 m diameter Ogive Payload Fairing
- Standard 937 mm diameter interface
Mission Outcome
According to the input, the vehicle successfully placed the satellite into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. About 18 minutes after lift-off, the GSLV-F14 deployed INSAT-3DS into the desired orbit.ISRO Chairman S. Somanath stated that:
- The spacecraft had been injected into a very good orbit
- The injection conditions were as expected
- The vehicle had performed very well
Significance of INSAT-3DS
INSAT-3DS is an exclusive mission for:
- Enhanced meteorological observations
- Monitoring land and ocean surfaces
- Weather forecasting
- Disaster warning
Thus, it strengthens India’s:
- weather monitoring capability
- forecasting system
- disaster preparedness framework
GSLV: From “Naughty Boy” to “Disciplined Boy”
The input mentions that GSLV had earlier been termed the “naughty boy” of Indian space because of its repeated failures in the past.After the successful launch:
- Mission Director Tommy Joseph said that GSLV had become a “disciplined boy”
- He added that like PSLV, GSLV had become a robust vehicle for ISRO
- VSSC Director S. Unnikrishnan Nair stated that after this success, the reliability of the vehicle had become very high
- He also remarked that GSLV had gone from “naughty” to “smarty”
Boost to Future Mission
The success of the GSLV-F14 / INSAT-3DS mission was described as a major boost ahead of the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite.
Importance for NISAR
- NISAR is scheduled to be launched by GSLV Mark-II
- ISRO Chairman stated that the success of this mission further increased confidence in GSLV
- Therefore, this mission served as a confidence booster for the upcoming NISAR mission
Static Part
GSLV
- Full Form: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Type: Three-stage launch vehicle
- Length: 51.7 m
- Lift-off mass: 420 tonnes
INSAT-3DS
- Type: Meteorological satellite
- Nature: Follow-on mission of third generation meteorological satellite
- Orbit after final placement: Geostationary Orbit
- Funding Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
Launch Site
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota
Conclusion
The GSLV-F14 / INSAT-3DS mission was an important success for India’s space programme. It not only strengthened meteorological and disaster warning services, but also demonstrated the growing reliability of GSLV, thereby preparing the ground for future major missions such as NISAR.