ISRO successfully launched INSAT-3DR, Advanced Weather Satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation – ISRO successfully placed INSAT-3DR, an advanced weather satellite in the GSLV-F05 rocket into the intended orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

About GSLV-Fo5 :

GSLV-F05 is the tenth flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), launching INSAT-3DR, an advanced weather satellite, weighing 2211 kg into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

• GSLV is designed to inject 2 – 2.5 Tonne class of satellites into GTO. The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota on September 08, 2016.
• GSLV-F05 flight is significant since it is the first operational flight of GSLV carrying Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS). The indigenously developed CUS was carried on-board for the fourth time during a GSLV flight in the GSLV-F05 flight.
• GSLV-F05 vehicle is configured with all its three stages including the CUS similar to the ones successfully flown during the previous GSLV-D5 and D6 missions in January 2014 and August 2015. GSLV-D5 and D6 successfully placed GSAT-14 and GSAT-6 satellites carried on-board in the intended GTOs accurately.

The Intended plan:-

The 2,211-kg rocket has three stages, and the last stage is fitted with the cryogenic engine which provides a thrust 1.5 times greater than in vehicles propelled by conventional liquid rocket engines.

• Once launched, the rocket’s engines burn and fall off in stages. At the last stage, the cryogenic engine comes to life and takes the satellite to space. A propulsion puts the INSAT-3DR into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• The INSAT-3DR joins KALPANA-1 and INSAT-3D meteorological satellites currently orbiting in space. INSAT-3D which was launched in 2013 counted features like using Atmospheric Sounding System to monitor weather.
• INSAT-3DR will be capable of imaging in two thermal infrared bands for estimation of sea surface temperature with better accuracy.
• It is noted that ISRO launched the first Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle— the GSLV-D5—with an indigenous cryogenic engine, joining the US, Russia, Japan, China and France in a select club of nations capable of developing such technology.