The countdown for the Thursday early morning launch of a rocket laden with remote sensing satellite Risat-1 has begun in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, an ISRO official said, a step that will reinforce India’s global leadership position in the field.
Remote sensing satellites send back pictures and other data for use. India has the largest constellation of remote sensing satellites in the world providing imagery in a variety of spatial resolutions, from more than a metre ranging up to 500 metres, and is a major player in vending such data in the global market.
With 11 remote sensing/earth observation satellites orbiting in the space, India is a world leader in the remote sensing data market. The 11 satellites are TES, Resourcesat 1, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A and 2B, IMS 1, Risat-2, Oceansat 2, Resourcesat-2, Megha-Tropiques. Also, charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks on-board the satellite will be performed. Readiness of various ground systems such as tracking radar systems and communication networks will also be checked. The rocket would inject Risat-1 satellite into an orbit of 480 km altitude at an inclination of 97.552 degree. The satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration at 536 km altitude using thrusters onboard the satellite. The rocket that would sling Risat-1 will be the four staged PSLV’s upgraded variant called PSLV-XL which would weigh 320 tonnes at lift-off.
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