Chennai, Jan 28 (Reporter) India's exclusive meterological satellite INSAT-3DS, to be flown on board Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV), was flagged off to SDSC-SHAR Range from Bengaluru. The satellite, realized by ISRO with the primary objective to provide continuity of services to the existing in-orbit INSAT-3D and 3DR satellites and significantly enhancing the capabilities of INSAT system, will be launched by GSLV-F14. After undergoing various tests at the spaceport of Sriharikota, the launch is likely to place from the Second Launch Pad in mid-February. In a social media post, ISRO said "GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS Mission: INSAT-3DS, ISRO's latest meteorological satellite, developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URRSC) in Bengaluru for the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), has been flagged off to SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, for launch aboard GSLV-F14." It was flagged off to SDSC-SHAR launch port on January 25, 2024 after the Satellite had successfully completed Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing activities at URRSC. The Pre-Shipment Review (PSR) was held with the participation of members from user community on January 25, 2024. The satellite is a user funded project with Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), configured around ISRO's well proven I-2k bus platform with a Lift-Off Mass of 2275 kg. Indian Industries have significantly contributed in the making of the Satellite. The satellite is designed for enhanced meteorological observations and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, with state-of-the-art payloads viz., 6 channel Imager and 19 channel Sounder meteorology payloads, communication payloads viz., The Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and Satellite aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder. The DRT instrument, receives meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from automatic Data Collection Platforms / Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and augments the weather forecasting capabilities. Satellite aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder is incorporated in the satellite to relay a distress signal / alert detection from the beacon transmitters for search and rescue services with global receive coverage. This would be the third mission for ISRO after the New Year day launch of XpoSat using PSLV and the successful insertion of Aditya-L1 satellite, India's first solar exploratory mission, in the Halo Orbit around Sun-Earth L1 on January six...////...