India strengthen observation capability from space with new satellite
India today further strengthened its observation capabilities from space with the launch of an earth observation satellite (EOS-04).
India's space agency, The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) today successfully launched Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C52 carrying an earth observation satellite (EOS-04), weighing 1710 kgs into a sun synchronous polar orbit of 529 kms. EOS-04 is the fourth in a series of earth observation satellites.
The PSLV- C52 launch vehicle lifted off at 05:59 hrs (IST) in the opening of the launch window. The important flight events, namely, stage & strap-on ignitions, heat shield separation, stages & strap-on separation, satellite injection took place exactly as planned.
After a flight of about 17 minutes 34 seconds three satellites namely EOS-04, INSPIREsat-1 and INST-2TD were injected successfully into a sun-synchronous polar orbit of 529 km. The orbit achieved for the satellites is very close to the intended orbits.
It may be noted, this is the first time Taiwan has participated in an international launch using ISRO or India's Space org's facility. India's space agency launched INSPIRESat-1 (IS-1) satellite jointly developed by US, Taiwan, India & Singapore universities.
After separation, the two solar arrays of EOS-04 deployed automatically and ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore has assumed the control of the satellite. In the coming days the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide the data
Like EOS-01, the satellite EOS-04 is a radar-imaging satellite which would have made it a part of the RISAT series earlier. It replaced the RISAT-1, which was launched in 2012 and has been non-functional for the last few years.
One big advantage that radar imaging has over optical instruments is that will not be unaffected by weather, cloud or fog, or the lack of sunlight. It can produce high-quality images in all conditions and at all times, making it suitable for surveillance.
ISRO said that the EOS-04 was designed to provide high-quality images for applications such as agriculture, forestry and plantations, flood mapping, soil moisture and hydrology. It will complement the data from Resourcesat, Cartosat and RISAT-2B series of satellites that are already in orbit.
The Cartosat series of satellites provides data on land topography and mapping, while the Oceansat satellites observe sea. Some INSAT-series, Resourcesat series, GISAT, Scatsat, and a few other earth observation satellites were named differently for the specific jobs they were assigned to do, or the different instruments that they. All these would now become part of the new EOS series of satellites.
Land and forest mapping and monitoring, mapping of resources like water or minerals or fishes, weather and climate observations, soil assessment, and geospatial contour mapping are done through these satellites.
The earth observation satellite will send pictures which will be used by different agencies as per their needs. The satellite will provide imaging data for various applications related to land, water and environment which find useful inputs for agriculture, forestry and water resource management.
Isro will further strengthen India's observation capabilities by launching three more satellites - OCEANSAT-3, INS-2B, ANAND- by PSLV-C53 in March and Micro SAT by the newly developed small rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in April.
While Isro, never speak openly on how it will help defence, it is understandable that these satellites will also play a strategic role in the nation's security as these satellites have capability to operate in day, night and all weather conditions,
Importance of space assets
Space assets support the country with connectivity, which plays a key role in both the economy and security of the country.
India currently has 53 operational satellites, of which 21 are earth observation ones and another 21 are communication-based. Eight are navigation satellites, while the remaining three are science satellites, according to information provided by the Government in Parliament.
Space assets like satellites facilitated communications, navigation, mass media and also our ability to predict cyclones, weather and crops among others.
Space technology also helps in precise location of a transmitter, fingerprinting the system enables detection of individual transmitters. It is also possible to detect missile launches and the nuclear radiations based on space based sensors, integrated with information from ground radars and networked sensors.
While it is important to showcase our strength and need to run fast in the global space race, it is necessary to protect the country’s critical cyber infrastructure. With the expansion of the cyber domain, both the advantages and challenges/threat on which India can keep an eye from space.
As many as 19 launches are planned this year, including a few big-ticket ones like the Chandrayaan-3 and the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
This makes 2022 the busiest calendar for ISRO since its inception.
Good luck Isro.
Ends
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