India's advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D was launched successfully from a European Space station. This spells a fast rate of progress to the country that has made the world take respectful notice. Despite many infamous controversies that India was embroiled in recently, something somewhere is going right. This news is one of them.

Our nation has launched the INSAT-3D, an advanced meteorological satellite from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. The satellite was launched by a European rocket during early Friday, effectively enhancing disaster forecasts and weather predictions. It is a key step of progress for India to correct many disappointments in the area of disaster management.

Ariane 5 rocket, belonging to the European space consortium Arianespace, held INSAT-3D as well as Alphasat satellites. The latter is the largest telecommunication satellite in Europe till date. Inmarsat and the European Space Agency collaborated to create it. Alongside this is our INSAT-3D, which will monitor land and ocean surfaces while allowing satellite-aided search and rescue operations.

INSAT-3D has the added advantage of an atmospheric sounding system, that generates vertical temperature, humidity and integrated ozone profiles. Airports Authority of India, Indian Coast Guard,  defense services, directorate general of shipping and fishermen will gain the maximum leverage out of the satellite.

Speaking immediately after the launch, Indian Space Research Organization Chairman K Radhakrishnan was relayed by Doordarshan stating that the master control facility at Hassan in India has already received signals from INSAT-3D.

"We are looking forward to an excellent operational performance of INSAT-3D for the next seven years making a difference for the weather forecasting and disaster warning systems for the country,” he added.

(AW: Sruthi)