Indian National Satellite (INSAT-3D) System

09 February 2004

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently been awarded a prestigious contract by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Space Applications Centre (SAC) to design and develop mid and long wavelength infrared optical filters for the INSAT-3D satellite system.

INSAT-3D is one of three satellites under development by ISRO exclusively to improve domestic weather forecasting and track cyclones and monsoons originating from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. The instrument comprises a six channel imaging radiometer designed to measure radiant and solar reflected energy from areas sampled on the Earth and a high resolution infrared sounder to measure vertical temperature profiles, humidity, surface and cloud top temperatures, and ozone distribution. It is planned for launch on the GSLVMk.2 launch vehicle in 2008 for deployment in a 38,500km equatorial plane geostationary orbit. This orbit will provide a continuous stationary view over the Indian Ocean for regular observations of cloud patterns and monitoring of the path of tropical cyclone formations to predict the time and place of landfall for disaster warning.

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory will be responsible for the design and manufacture of the MWIR and LWIR narrow-bandpass filters defining the spectral band definition of the instrument.