India will put into orbit its new meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS on Feb 17 at 5.30 p.m. with the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, the Indian space agency said on Feb 8.  

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in its 16th mission, the GSLV aims to put INSAT-3DS into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. 

Subsequent orbit-raising maneuvers will ensure that the satellite is positioned in a Geo-Stationary Orbit. 

The INSAT-3DS is India’s third generation meteorological satellite and is fully funded by the ministry of earth sciences. It is designed for enhanced meteorological observations and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning. 

The satellite will augment the meteorological services along with the presently operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites. 

Various departments under the ministry of earth sciences such as the India Meteorology Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and various other agencies and institutes will be using the INSAT-3DS satellite data to provide improved weather forecasts and meteorological services. 

The Indian space agency said the primary objectives of the mission are: To monitor Earth’s surface, carry out oceanic observations and its environment in various spectral channels of meteorological importance; to provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere; to provide data collection and data dissemination capabilities from the data collection platforms (DCPs); and to provide satellite aided search and rescue services.

30 space missions planned from India in next 14 months

A total of 30 space launches, commercial and non-commercial by government and private players, are being planned from India over the next 14 months from the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) said on Feb 8.

Included in the proposed missions are the test flights relating to India’s human space mission, Gaganyaan.

This was stated by IN-SPACe, the regulator for the private sector in the space industry, in its integrated launch manifesto using Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) infrastructure.

“About 30 launches are planned for 2023-24 (Q4) and 2024-25 from SDSC (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) half of which are catering to the commercial space sector of India with the rest being user-funded, scientific missions or technology test launches,” IN-SPACe said.

According to IN-SPACe, out of the 14 commercial missions identified, seven launches are being undertaken by NewSpace India Ltd -- the commercial arm of Department of Space, including the realisation of two Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) from the L&T-HAL consortium.

This marks a substantial increase in launch activity compared to previous years and is a positive indicator of the expanding space ecosystem in the country.

This initiative aligns with the directives of the recently-ratified Indian Space Policy, entrusting IN-SPACe with authorisation of launch manifesto for launch-infrastructure created through public expenditure.

The launch manifesto comprehensively covers user-funded, scientific missions and other technology demonstration launches by ISRO along with the commercial launches and associated primary and co-sharing passengers.

“The Integrated Launch Manifesto is in line with Department of Space’s vision on optimising resources and encouraging innovation to establish India as a global manufacturing hub for space activities, aligning with the vision of ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India),” IN-SPACe said.

The key private sector rocket missions include planned Sub-Orbital and Orbital launches by Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace.

Few of the private sector satellites that would be flown are from Digantara Research & Technology, Dhruva Space, Space Kidz India and academic institutes like IIT-Madras, Manipal Institute of Technology and C.V. Raman Global University Odisha, IN-SPACe said.

However, IN-SPACe will make every effort to accommodate any additional requirement of private players during this period.

As per the launch manifesto issued by IN-SPACe, the following space missions are slated before the end of this fiscal:

* PSLV C58 / ISRO Payload + POEM-3 with 9 payloads

* GSLV-F14 / ISRO Payload

* AGNIBAAN-SORTeD (Suborbital mission) – Agnikul Cosmos

* SSLV D3/ ISRO Primary Payload, Space Rickshaw and IIT-M Satellite.

During 2024-25, the space missions lined up are:

* ISRO/User-funded Space Missions:

* PSLV C60: ISRO Payload & POEM-4

* GSLV F15/ ISRO Payload

* PSLV C61/ ISRO Payload

* GSLV F16 /ISRO Payload

* PSLV C63/ISRO Payloads

* GSLV F17 / ISRO payload

Commercial space missions:

* PSLV C59: NSIL Primary Payload, SCOT, CGUSAT, LEAP-1

* LVM3 M5: NSIL Payload

* PSLV C62: PROBA-3

* PSLV N1: TDS-01

* SSLV S1: TBD, PARIKSHIT

* PSLV N2: TBD, Aadyah, DRISHTI, Sanskardhaam, DS P30 (2nos)

* SSLV S2: TBD, Azista60°

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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