ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): A New Chapter Unfolds with INSAT-3DS
India’s space agency, ISRO, is set to launch its latest weather satellite, INSAT-3DS, utilizing the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday at 5:35 pm. The GSLV, colloquially known as the “naughty boy,” has faced criticism for a 40% failure rate in six out of its 15 flights. Despite this reputation, ISRO aims to bolster India’s weather and climate monitoring services with this mission. The new weather satellite is called INSAT-3DS. In contrast to the GSLV, its heavier counterpart, the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (Bahubali rocket), boasts a flawless success rate across seven flights. ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) also maintains an impressive 95% success rate with just three failures out of 60 launches. The GSLV, a 51.7-meter-long three-stage rocket equipped with an Indian-made cryogenic engine, has a liftoff mass of 420 tonnes. Despite its history, ISRO plans to retire the GSLV after a few more launches. INSAT-3DS, the satel...