<p>After seven years of design and groundwork, India will finally put into space Insat-3D, an advanced weather satellite configured with improved imaging system and atmospheric sounder, from Kourou, French Guiana on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This will be the first geostationary sounder system over Indian Ocean. <br /><br />With Kalpana and Insat-3A already operational in geostationary orbit for the past decade at 74 degree East and 93.5 degree East respectively, sources said, Insat-3D will add a new dimension to weather monitoring. <br /><br />Kalpana and Insat-3A have imaging systems providing images in visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, water vapour and thermal infrared bands.<br /><br />A well-placed source in Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said Insat-3D will have weather monitoring through its atmospheric sounding system, which provides vertical profiles of temperature (40 levels from surface to -70 km), humidity (21 levels from surface to -15 km) and integrated ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere. <br /><br />The imaging system of Insat-3D has significant improvements over its predecessors. It is equipped with imaging in middle infrared band to provide night-time pictures of low clouds and fog; imaging in two thermal-infrared bands for estimation of sea surface temperature (SST) with better accuracy and higher spatial resolution in the visible and thermal-infrared bands.<br /><br />The source said that Insat-3D will also carry a Data Relay Transponder and Search and Rescue Transponder.<br /><br />Stating that it will provide continuity to earlier missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological as well as search and rescue services, the source said it has a lift-off mass of 2,060 kg, which includes about 1,125 kg of propellant.<br /><br />The propellant carried is mainly required to raise the satellite from the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) to its final Geostationary Orbit and to maintain the satellite attitude during its life. <br />Insat-3D is based on Isro’s “two-tonne class” platform (I-2K bus) employing light-weight structural elements like Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). <br /><br />It will be launched into a GTO by Ariane-5 VA-214 launch vehicle, a solar panel will be deployed immediately after its injection into GTO.<br /><br />Following this, Isro’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan takes control of the satellite and performs the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on-board the satellite, finally placing it in the circular Geostationary Orbit. <br /><br />Later, it will be put into its final orbital configuration and positioned at 82 deg East longitude.</p>
<p>After seven years of design and groundwork, India will finally put into space Insat-3D, an advanced weather satellite configured with improved imaging system and atmospheric sounder, from Kourou, French Guiana on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This will be the first geostationary sounder system over Indian Ocean. <br /><br />With Kalpana and Insat-3A already operational in geostationary orbit for the past decade at 74 degree East and 93.5 degree East respectively, sources said, Insat-3D will add a new dimension to weather monitoring. <br /><br />Kalpana and Insat-3A have imaging systems providing images in visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, water vapour and thermal infrared bands.<br /><br />A well-placed source in Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said Insat-3D will have weather monitoring through its atmospheric sounding system, which provides vertical profiles of temperature (40 levels from surface to -70 km), humidity (21 levels from surface to -15 km) and integrated ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere. <br /><br />The imaging system of Insat-3D has significant improvements over its predecessors. It is equipped with imaging in middle infrared band to provide night-time pictures of low clouds and fog; imaging in two thermal-infrared bands for estimation of sea surface temperature (SST) with better accuracy and higher spatial resolution in the visible and thermal-infrared bands.<br /><br />The source said that Insat-3D will also carry a Data Relay Transponder and Search and Rescue Transponder.<br /><br />Stating that it will provide continuity to earlier missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological as well as search and rescue services, the source said it has a lift-off mass of 2,060 kg, which includes about 1,125 kg of propellant.<br /><br />The propellant carried is mainly required to raise the satellite from the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) to its final Geostationary Orbit and to maintain the satellite attitude during its life. <br />Insat-3D is based on Isro’s “two-tonne class” platform (I-2K bus) employing light-weight structural elements like Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). <br /><br />It will be launched into a GTO by Ariane-5 VA-214 launch vehicle, a solar panel will be deployed immediately after its injection into GTO.<br /><br />Following this, Isro’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan takes control of the satellite and performs the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on-board the satellite, finally placing it in the circular Geostationary Orbit. <br /><br />Later, it will be put into its final orbital configuration and positioned at 82 deg East longitude.</p>
