ISRO’s GSLV-F05 rocket launches advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DR

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the rocket GSLV-F-Zero-Five, carrying an advanced weather satellite “INSAT-3DR” today.

Commenting on the launch, ISRO sources revealed that the launch carries an advanced weather satellite that would provide a variety of meteorological services to the country. According to the space agency officials, ISRO will launch ScatSat which is a weather monitoring and forecasting satellite with polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) at the end of the month. INSAT-3DR has a lifespan of eight years and carrying more significance, GSLV-F05 would be the first official rocket to carry indigenously built Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS). The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) cleared the GSLV rocket launch slated for 4.10 p.m. on September 8, ISRO said. All these satellites are in the geostationary orbit.

The year-end is expected to see the launch from here of the GSLV-Mk-III with the GSAT-19 communication satellite weighing around 3.2 tonnes – the heaviest to be lifted by an Indian rocket.

Following the successful launch of GSLV-F05, Mr. Kiran Kumar said ISRO plans to launch at least two GSLV Mark II missions every year.

India’s first test-flight of the GSLV with a cryogenic engine happened in April 2001 and it was a failure.

Initially, it was scheduled for lift-off at 4:10 pm from second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, but was re-scheduled to 4:40 pm. The first successful test-flight using the indigenous engine happened in January 2014.

After INSAT-3DR reaches the intended GTO, the solar panels of the satellite will be deployed immediately.

For the GSLV rocket, this is the tenth mission overall. Cryogenic engines use liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer to burn the fuel. “Successful launch of INSAT-3DR is a moment of vast”, Mr. Modi said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

This satellite will be a successor to the 2013 launched satellite INSAT-3D.

The Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Transponder would pick up and relay alert signals originating from distress beacons of maritime, aviation, among others.