India’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D launched successfully

BANGALORE : India’s weather satellite INSAT-3D, carrying advanced weather monitoring payloads, was today launched successfully in an Ariane-5 (VA214) launch vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.
After a smooth countdown lasting 11 hours and 30 minutes, the Ariane-5 launch vehicle lifted off majestically right on schedule at the opening of the launch window at 0124 hrs.
After a flight of 32 minutes and 48 seconds, INSAT-3D was placed in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), very close to the intended one.
(AGENCIES)