The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is aiming to gain its lost momentum as it launches the Earth Observation Satellite on August 12. The launch will mark the resumption of services by the premier space agency that has largely come to a halt due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
The satellite, also dubbed the Geo Imaging Satellite-1 (GISAT-1) was initially set to be launched in March 2020. However, it was scrubbed following a technical glitch. The satellite will be launched onboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV) at 5.43 am on August 12 from Sriharikota. The final launch will depend on weather conditions.
The GSLV flight will be carrying the satellite in a 4 metre diameter-Ogive shaped payload fairing, which is being flown for the first time on the rocket, that has so far conducted 13 other flights deploying satellite and partner missions into space.
The Earth Observation Satellite will play a key role in disaster management and mitigation for India as it enables near-real-time monitoring of natural disasters like floods and cyclones that have become common in the Indian subcontinent. The satellite will image the whole country four to five times on a daily basis, sending in key data related to weather and environmental change to different agencies.
The satellite will be placed in the geosynchronous transfer orbit by GSLV after which it will move in sync with Earth. The satellite will have payload imaging sensors of six band multi-spectral visible and near infra-red with 42 metres resolution, 158 bands hyper-spectral visible and near infra-red with 318 metres resolution and 256 bands hyper-spectral short wave infra-red with 191 metres resolution.
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