The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its weather satellite, INSAT-3DS, aboard the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F14, known as the ‘naughty boy‘ for its inconsistent track record. The GSLV-F14 rocket took off at 5.35 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota after a countdown that began on Thursday. This marks the rocket’s 16th mission and its 10th flight utilizing the India-made cryogenic engine.
In its 16th flight, the GSLV aims to deploy INSAT-3DS, a meteorological and disaster warning satellite. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) fully funds this mission, according to ISRO. The success of this mission holds significance for the GSLV, which is set to launch the Earth observation satellite, NISAR, later this year, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO.
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As per an Indian Express report, the GSLV has experienced four unsuccessful launches out of 15 attempts so far. In contrast, ISRO’s PSLV, with 60 missions, and its successor LVM-3, with seven missions, have not encountered any failures.
The GSLV, a 51.7-meter-long three-stage rocket with a liftoff mass of 420 tonnes, is slated for retirement after a few more launches, according to ISRO. The INSAT-3DS weather satellite, weighing 2,274 kg and costing approximately ₹480 crore, is crucial for enhancing India’s weather and climate monitoring services. Funded entirely by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, INSAT-3DS represents a third-generation upgraded, dedicated meteorological satellite.
