On Saturday, the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket carrying the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite took off from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The mission’s goal is to keep the present INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites working and provide uninterrupted services. It focuses on improving meteorological observations, monitoring land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and hazard warning and offering Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Services.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: ISRO launched INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite onboard a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV-F14), from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
(Source: ISRO) pic.twitter.com/abjPVJWkxh
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2024
The launch vehicle travelled through the atmosphere, deploying the satellite first into a geostationary transfer orbit before moving it into a geostationary orbit circling the earth. This orbit is more than 35,000 kilometers above Earth’s equator.
Following Isro’s successful launch of the XPoSat mission into orbit on January 1, 2024, this was the second launch of the year.