Isro eyes Feb launch for key INSAT-3DS satellites

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As of January 15, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch the INSAT-3DS satellite in February 2024. The satellite will be launched using the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14), a liquid propellant rocket. 

The INSAT-3DS is a meteorological satellite and the seventh flight of the INSAT-3D series. It has a mass of 2060 kg at launch, a dry mass of 907 kg, and a power of 1164 W. 

According to a senior official, the launch is likely to take place in the first week of February. However, a Reddit user says that the launch has been postponed to January 28 due to unavoidable reasons. The user also says that preparations are being made to carry out the launch in the coming months due to technical glitches in the carrier connection.

Isro officials said that the launch was previously planned for January, but it is now likely to happen in February. They, however, said that the satellite is already in the process of being integrated with the launch vehicle and the agency is only waiting for a final launch date

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch the INSAT-3DS satellite on the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14) in early February 2024. The GSLV-F14 is a more advanced rocket that uses liquid propellant

The GSLV uses a cryogenic engine, which uses liquified nitrogen and oxygen as fuel. The GSLV’s nominal thrust is 75 kN, and its burn-time is 814 seconds. 

The GSLV is also known as the “Bahubali” or “LVM3” (Launch Vehicle Mark-3). The first developmental test flight of the GSLV was carried out in 2001

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MK3) has a three-stage launching system: 

  • First stage: Solid fuel S200 stage. Two rocket boosters use 200 tonnes of solid fuel to lift off the rocket. 
  • Second stage: Liquid fuel L110 stage. 
  • Third stage: Cryogenic fuel C25 stage. 

The GSLV MK3 is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The S200 solid motor is one of the world’s largest solid boosters, with 204 tonnes of solid propellant. 

The GSLV is a fourth generation launch vehicle designed for launching communication satellites. ISRO first launched the GSLV on April 18, 2001 and has made 13 launches since then.

The GSLV Mark III (LVM3) is powered by the Cryogenic Engine (CE)-20, India’s largest cryogenic engine. The CE-20 is 13.5 meters tall, 4 meters in diameter, and uses 28 tons of oxygen and hydrogen as fuel. The engine has a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN and a specific impulse of 442 seconds in a vacuum

The CE-20 is designed to operate on a gas generator cycle using a combination of LOX and LH2 propellants. The C25 cryogenic upper stage is powered by the CE-20. 

The GSLV Mark III is a four-stage launch vehicle. The first and third stages use solid rocket motors, while the second and fourth stages use liquid rocket engines

The GSLV MkIII-M1 successfully launched the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft on July 22, 2019. The Chandrayaan-2 mission was India’s second moon mission and consisted of an orbiter, lander, and rover. The Chandrayaan-2 stack is the heaviest spacecraft launched by ISRO

As of April 22, 2023, India has launched 424 satellites for 34 countries. ISRO, India’s government space agency, has successfully launched nearly 150 satellites since 1975. 

As of January 1, 2023, the government owns 23 and 29 operational satellites in LEO and GEO, respectively. 

On February 14, 2017, ISRO launched 104 satellites into orbit on a single rocket—the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This is the highest number of satellites launched by a single launch vehicle.

According to Singh, ISRO has launched approximately 430 foreign satellites for many countries using its commercial divisions. These nations include Australia, Brazil, France, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

After a successful start to 2024, with two significant missions already completed, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is now gearing up to launch INSAT-3DS satellites on-board the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14), its more advanced rocket that uses liquid propellant

ISRO’s first successful satellite was Aryabhata, which was launched in 1975. The satellite was named after the famous Indian astronomer and was entirely designed and manufactured in India. The Soviet space agency Interkosmos launched the satellite from Kapustin Yar on April 19, 1975

In 1980, ISRO launched the RS-1 satellite on SLV-3, making India the seventh country to be able to launch orbital launches. The first Indian-built launch vehicle was SLV-3, which was used to launch the Rohini satellite in 1980. 

ISRO has successfully launched almost 150 satellites. In 2023, ISRO successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, the country’s first solar observatory

In 2023, ISRO launched several satellites, including: 

  • Aditya-L1 India’s first solar observatory, launched on September 2, 2023. The satellite carries seven payloads to study the sun. 
  • TeLEOS-2 Launched on April 22, 2023, this mission carried two Singaporean satellites: TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4. 
  • DS-SAR Launched on July 30, 2023, this mission carried the DS-SAR satellite and six co-passengers. 
  • SSLV-D2/EOS-07 Launched on February 10, 2023, this was the second developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). 
  • X-ray Polarimeter Satellite Scheduled for launch on December 28, 2023, this mission will investigate the polarization of cosmic X-rays.

ISRO’s latest project is the Venus Orbiter Mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2025. The spacecraft will orbit Venus for five years to study the planet’s atmosphere. 

ISRO is also preparing for the Gaganyaan mission, which will be India’s first crewed space flight. The mission will put three astronauts into orbit 400 kilometers above Earth. India plans to launch an uncrewed test flight this year before the main event, which is likely to take place in 2025

India has several achievements in space research, including: 

  • Chandrayaan-1 In 2008, India’s first lunar mission launched, which may have been the first probe to confirm water on the moon. 
  • Mars Orbiter Mission In 2013, India’s first interplanetary mission became the first Asian spacecraft to enter Martian orbit. 
  • Chandrayaan-3 In 2023, India became the second country to successfully land on the moon’s surface since 1976. 
  • Aditya-L1 In 2023, India’s first solar observatory reached its destination, Lagrange Point 1, on January 6. 

ISRO has also completed 114 spacecraft missions, 84 launch missions, 13 student satellites, 2 re-entry missions, and 342 foreign satellites.

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