ISRO’s ‘Mischievous Maverick’ Rocket Set to Launch India’s Latest Weather Satellite

In a pivotal mission for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the GSLV-F14, affectionately dubbed the “naughty boy” for its checkered history, is scheduled to launch the meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS. The lift-off is slated for 5.35 pm on Saturday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

This mission marks the GSLV’s 16th overall and its 10th flight utilizing the indigenously developed cryogenic engine. The success of this launch is of paramount importance as the GSLV is earmarked for a significant upcoming task later in the year – carrying the Earth observation satellite, NISAR, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO.

NISAR’s ambitious mission involves mapping the entire globe within 12 days, furnishing “spatially and temporally consistent” data crucial for comprehending changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, sea level rise, and monitoring natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis, according to ISRO.

The GSLV has acquired a somewhat mischievous reputation, with four out of its 15 launches encountering setbacks. In stark contrast, ISRO’s workhorse, the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), has an impressive track record of only three failures out of 60 missions. Additionally, ISRO’s successor to PSLV, the LVM-3, has yet to face a mission failure.

The payload for this mission, INSAT-3DS, weighs 2,274 kg and boasts a mission life of 10 years. It is designed to take over the responsibilities of INSAT-3D (launched in 2013) and INSAT-3DR (September 2016), both of which have reached the end of their mission lives. Fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the satellite is anticipated to be injected into a 36,647 km x 170 km elliptical orbit approximately 18 minutes after launch.

Once operational, INSAT-3DS will provide advanced weather observations for both land and ocean surfaces. Its capabilities will include aiding in short-range forecasts of extreme weather events, estimating visibility for aviation, and contributing to the study of forest fires, smoke, snow cover, and climate patterns. The success of this launch not only validates the GSLV’s capabilities but also sets the stage for India’s continued advancements in space exploration and satellite technology.