ISRO

ISRO Satellites Launched

2012-02-02T18:26:00.004+05:30

For the past four decades, ISRO has launched more than 60 satellites for different scientific and technological applications like mobile communications, Direct-to-Home services, meteorological observations, telemedicine, tele-education, tragedy warning, radio networking, search and rescue operations, remote sensing and scientific studies of the space.

ISRO has established two major space systems, the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) series for communication, television broadcasting and meteorological services which is Geo-Stationary Satellites, and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) system for resources monitoring and management which is Earth Observation Satellites.

ISRO has launched several Experimental Satellites which are generally small comparing to INSAT or IRS and Space Missions to explore the space.

The GSAT-8

2012-01-13T12:07:00.001+05:30

GSAT-8, India’s advanced communication satellite, is a high authority communication satellite being inducted in the INSAT system.

Weighing about 3100 Kg at lift-off, GSAT-8 is configured to carry 24 high power transponders in Ku-band and a two-channel GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands.

The 24 Ku band transponders will augment the capacity in the INSAT system. The GAGAN payload provides the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), through which the accuracy of the positioning information obtained from the GPS Satellite is improved by a network of ground based receivers and made available to the users in the country through the geostationary satellites.

GSAT-12 Communication Satellite placed in Geosynchronous Orbit

2011-12-16T12:34:00.001+05:30

The GSAT-12 Communication Satellite, launched onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C17), has been successfully located in Geosynchronous Orbit with a perigee of 35,684 km, apogee of 35,715 km and an orbital inclination of 0.17 degree with respect to the equatorial plane.

It may be recalled that on July 15, 2011, PSLV-C17 had injected GSAT-12 into an elliptical transfer orbit of 281 km perigee and 21,027 km apogee, and orbital inclination of 17.9 degree. The critical manoeuvres to raise GSAT-12 Satellite into Geosynchronous Orbit were performed by firing the 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor of GSAT-12 Satellite for about 80 minutes in five spells during July 16-20, 2011.

The Communication antenna onboard the satellite was deployed successfully today (July 21, 2011) at 15:30 hrs (IST) and the Satellite is in its final orbital configuration, pointing towards Earth.

GSAT-12 is now located at 63 degree East longitude. The Satellite would be moved to reach its designated longitude of 83 degree East within the next 16 days (at the rate of one degree per day). The GSAT-12 Satellite will be co-located with INSAT-2E and INSAT-4A Satellites.

After parking the Satellite at this location, the Communication Transponders are planned to be switched on by August 5, 2011, followed by In-Orbit Testing. The GSAT-12 Satellite is in good health and is in continuous radio-visibility from ISRO's Master Control Facility, Hassan.

YOUTHSAT Satellite

2011-11-04T15:13:00.004+05:30

YOUTHSAT is a joint Indo-Russian stellar and atmospheric satellite mission with the contribution of students from Universities at graduate, post graduate and research scholar level. With a lift-off mass of 92 kg, Youthsat is a mini satellite and the second in the Indian Mini Satellite (IMS) series.

Youthsat mission intends to investigate the relationship between solar variability and thermosphere-Ionosphere changes.

The satellite carries three payloads, of which two are Indian and one Russian. Together, they form a unique and complete package of experiments for the investigation of the composition, energetics and dynamics of earth's upper atmosphere.

The Indian payloads are:

RaBIT (Radio Beacon for Ionospheric Tomography) - For mapping Total Electron Content (TEC) of the Ionosphere.

LiVHySI (Limb Viewing Hyper Spectral Imager) - To perform airglow measurements of the Earth's upper atmosphere (80- 600 km) in 450-950 nm.

The Russian payload.

SOLRAD - To study temporal and spectral parameters of solar flare X and gamma ray fluxes as well as charge particles in the earth polar cap regions.

Data Reception and Dissemination

2011-09-26T17:22:00.001+05:30

National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquirement and processing, data dissemination, aerial remote sensing and decision support for disaster management.

NRSC has archived a wealth of satellite images from Indian and foreign satellites since 1983. NRSC has its data reception facility at Shadnagar, 65 km from Hyderabad city. The station has four state of the art antenna systems for data reception and archival.

The Satellite data processing chain has a user friendly web mechanism to enable users to order data of their requirement. It can facilitate to acquire data pertaining to any part of the globe on user request.

The Aerial facility has two Beech craft aircraft to acquire data utilizing various sensors like Aerial cameras, Laser instrument, Synthetic aperture radar and Magnetometer.

The aerial facility has carried out number of studies for mapping and infrastructure planning for towns and cities, Cadastral surveys, canal alignment for interlinking of rivers, Digital elevation model (DEM) applications ,Mineral targeting etc., It has also carried out international projects in Maldives & Emirates of Dubai.

The Decision Support Centre (DSC) is a single window information provider on major natural disasters like Floods, Agricultural Drought, and Forest fires, Cyclones, Earthquakes and Landslides. It provides near real time information to State and Central government for relief, rehabilitation and planning. The DSC also supports International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and Sentinel Asia. Under this, critical support was extended to Myanmar during Nargis (2008) Cyclone; Indonesian floods (2008) and China earthquake (2008).

India's First Mission to Moon

2011-08-30T17:23:00.003+05:30

“THE MOON “with the history of the early solar system etched on it beckons mankind from time immemorial to admire its marvels and discover its secrets. Understanding the moon provides a pathway to unravel the early evolution of the solar system and that of the planet earth.

Through the ages, the Moon, our closest extraterrestrial body has aroused curiosity in our mind much more than any other objects in the sky. This led to scientific study of the Moon, driven by human desire and mission for knowledge. This is also reflected in the ancient verse.

Exploration of the moon got a boost with the advent of the space age and the decades of sixties and seventies saw a myriad of successful unmanned and manned missions to moon. This was followed by a hiatus of about one and a half-decade. During this period we refined our knowledge about the origin and evolution of the moon and its place as a link to understand the early history of the Solar System and of the earth.

However, new questions about lunar evolution also emerged and new possibilities of using the moon as a platform for further exploration of the solar system and beyond were formulated. Moon again became the prime target for exploration and a new renaissance of rejuvenated interest dawned. All the major space faring nations of the world started planning missions to explore the moon and also to utilize moon as a potential base for space exploration.

The idea of undertaking an Indian scientific mission to Moon was initially mooted in a meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1999 that was followed up by discussions in the Astronautical Society of India in 2000. Based on the recommendations made by the learned members of these forums, a National Lunar Mission Task Force was constituted by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Leading Indian scientists and technologists participated in the deliberations of the Task Force that provided an assessment on the feasibility of an Indian Mission to the Moon as well as dwelt on the focus of such a mission and its possible configuration.

Village Resource Centres

2011-08-03T11:35:00.002+05:30

To provide services space allowed directly to the rural population, ISRO launched the Village Resource Centre (VRC) program in partnership with renowned NGOs / trusts and state agencies / central.

VRC 473 were established in 22 territories of the States / Union, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim. Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and A & N Islands.

The VRC is connected to the centers of knowledge / experts and agricultural universities, institutes of Skills Development and Hospitals. More than 6500 programs have been conducted by the VRC in the areas of skills development for agriculture / horticulture, fisheries, livestock, water resources, Tele health care, awareness programs, empowerment of women, education further, computer literacy, micro credits, micro finance / professional training for livelihood support, etc. So far, more than five lakh people have benefited from the services of VRC.

About Disaster Management

2011-07-21T17:35:00.004+05:30

The Disaster Management Support (DMS) Programme of ISRO, provides timely support and services from aero-space systems, both imaging and communications, towards efficient management of disasters in the country. The DMS programme addresses disasters such as flood, cyclone, drought, forest fire, landslide and Earthquake etc.

These include design of digital data base for facilitating hazard zonation, damage assessment, etc., monitoring of major natural disasters using satellite and aerial data; development of suitable techniques and tools for decision support, establishing satellite based reliable communication network, deployment of emergency communication equipments and R&D towards early warning of disasters.

To support the total cycle of disaster/ emergency management for the country, in near real time, the database creation is addressed through National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM), a GIS based repository of data. NDEM is envisaged to have core data, hazard-specific data, and dynamic data in spatial as well as aspatial form.

Remote Sensing Applications

2011-07-11T18:06:00.004+05:30

Remote sensing has enabled mapping, studying, monitoring and management of various resources like agriculture, forestry, geology, water, ocean etc. It has further enabled monitoring of environment and thereby helping in protection. In the last four decades it has grown as a major tool for collecting information on almost every aspect on the earth.

With the availability of very high spatial resolution satellites in the recent years, the applications have multiplied. In India remote sensing has been used for various applications during the last four decades and has contributed considerably towards development.

India has its own satellites like Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) series - Resourcesat, Cartosat, Oceansat etc which provide required data for carrying out various projects. Some of the important projects carried out in the country include Groundwater Prospects Mapping under Drinking Water Mission, Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro meteorology and Land based observations (FASAL), Forest Cover/Type Mapping, Grassland Mapping, Biodiversity Characterisation, Snow & Glacier Studies, Land Use/Cover mapping, Coastal Studies, Coral and Mangroves Studies, Wasteland Mapping etc.

The information generated by large number of projects have been used by various departments, industries and others for different purposes like development planning, monitoring, conservation etc.

Satcom Application

2011-06-20T16:37:00.003+05:30

Satellite Communication (Satcom) technology offers the unique capability of at the same time reaching out to very large numbers spread over large distances even in the most remote corners of the country. The hallmark of Indian Space Programme has been the application oriented efforts and the benefits that have accrued to the country.

In the past two and a half decades Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system have revolutionized the country’s telecommunications, TV broadcasting, DTH services, business communications, rural area connectivity, Tele-education, Tele-medicine, Village Resource Centers, Search and Rescue operations and Emergency Communications.

INSAT system is a joint venture of the Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, India Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. Established in 1983, INSAT system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia Pacific Region with eleven satellites in operation. These satellites carry more than 200 transponders in the C, Extended C and Ku-bands, besides meteorological instruments.
INSAT is used for a variety of societal applications in the area of Tele-education, Tele-medicine and support to the Disaster Management System (DMS).

Village Resource Centre (VRC), a single window agency providing the services offered by INSAT and IRS satellites to provide information on natural resources, land and water resources management, Tele-medicine, Tele-education, adult education, vocational training, health-care and family welfare programmes, has been established. Meteorological data from INSAT is used for weather forecasting and specially designed disaster warning receivers have been installed in vulnerable coastal areas for direct transmission of warnings against impending disaster like cyclones.

Sponsord Research

2011-04-27T16:02:00.003+05:30

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has evolved a programme through which financial support is provided for conducting research and development activities related to Space Science, Space Technology and Space Application to academia in India.

This programme of Research Sponsored by ISRO is called RESPOND. In special cases research and development projects proposed by non-academic R & D laboratories can also be supported through this programme. The aim of RESPOND is to encourage quality research in areas of relevance to the Indian space programme.

The primary objective of the Indian Space programme is to harness the advanced research areas of space science and technology for national development and to derive the maximum benefit for the people of India.

The Indian Space Programme includes the following major elements:
Demonstration of the feasibility of deriving from space science and technology, applications in space communications, long distance education, earth resources survey, meterology and geodesy.

Development of indigenous capability for design and development of orbiting satellites for scientific research and space applications, sounding rockets and satellite launch vehicles.

Space vision

2011-04-13T17:36:00.002+05:30

* Satellite based communication and direction-finding systems for rural connectivity, security needs and mobile services

* Enhanced imaging capability for natural resource management, weather and climate change studies

* Space science missions for better understanding of solar system and universe

* Planetary exploration

* Development of Heavy lift launcher

* Reusable Launch Vehicles - Technology demonstrator missions leading to Two Stage to Orbit (TSTO)

* Human Space Flight

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT

2011-04-06T16:56:00.004+05:30

The Department of Space is committed to :

Provide national space infrastructure for the telecommunication needs of the country.

Provide satellite services required for weather forecasting, monitoring etc.
Provide satellite imagery required for the developmental and security needs of the country.
Provide satellite imagery and specific products and services required for application of space science and technology for developmental purposes to the Central Government, State Governments, Quasi Governmental Organizations, NGOs and the private sector.
Promote Research & Development in space sciences and technology.

While operationalizing the above mentioned objectives, Department of Space will

Provide required transponders and facilities out of its own capacity as well as by hiring additional capacity, if needed.
Register Indian Satellite System for public and private sectors.
Provide its products and services in a prompt, efficient and corruption free manner to all the users/clients.

Antrix Corporation Limited

2011-03-28T16:16:00.003+05:30

Antrix Corporation Limited is an entirely owned by Government of India Company under the administrative control of the Department of Space, Government of India. Antrix Corporation Limited was incorporated as a private limited company owned by Government of India, in September 1992 as a Marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO. Another major objective is to facilitate development of space related industrial capabilities in India.

As the commercial & marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Antrix is engaged in providing Space products & services to international customers worldwide. Antrix, which is an INR 950 Cr. Company in 2007-08, got the "Miniratna" status by the Government of India in 2008.

With fully equipped state-of-the-art facilities, Antrix is a one-stop-shop for any of the space products, ranging from supply of hardware and software including simple subsystems to a complex spacecraft, for varied applications covering communications, earth observation, scientific missions; space related service including remote sensing data series, Transponders lease service; Launch services through the operational launch vehicles (PSLV and GSLV); Mission support services; and a host of consultancy and training services are also offered by Antrix.

With the versatility of products and services being marketed, Antrix caters to a prestigious clientele including some of the leading space companies across the globe - EADS Astrium, Intelsat, Avanti Group, World space, Inmarsat, World Sat, DLR, KARI, Eutelsat, OHB Systems and several other Space Institutions in Europe, Middle East and South East Asian countries.

Data reception & dissemination

2011-03-24T16:51:00.003+05:30

National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquisition and processing, data dissemination, aerial remote sensing and decision support for disaster management.

NRSC has archived a prosperity of satellite images from Indian and foreign satellites since 1983. NRSC has its data reception facility at Shadnagar, 65 km from Hyderabad city. The station has four state of the art antenna systems for data reception and archival.

The Satellite data processing chain has a user friendly web mechanism to enable users to order data of their requirement. It can facilitate to acquire data pertaining to any part of the globe on user request.

The Aerial facility has two Beech craft aircraft to acquire data utilizing various sensors like Aerial cameras, Laser instrument, Synthetic aperture radar and Magnetometer. The aerial facility has carried out number of studies for mapping and infrastructure planning for towns and cities, Cadastral surveys, canal alignment for interlinking of rivers, Digital elevation model (DEM) applications , Mineral targeting etc., It has also carried out international projects in Maldives & Emirates of Dubai.

The Decision Support Centre (DSC) is a single window information provider on major natural disasters like Floods, Agricultural Drought, and Forest fires, Cyclones, Earthquakes and Landslides.

It provides near real time information to State and Central government for relief, rehabilitation and planning. The DSC also supports International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and Sentinel Asia. Under this, critical support was extended to Myanmar during Nargis (2008) Cyclone; Indonesian floods (2008) and China earthquake (2008).

NRSC also has very sophisticated infrastructure for analysis of satellite data: state-of-art Digital image processing and GIS Lab.

About Data Analysis

2011-03-21T15:39:00.002+05:30

Remote sensing data are being used to map/monitor/survey/manage various natural resources of the country under National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) programmes. Funded by various user ministries and ISRO/DOS, these programmes have been generating valuable spatial data assets and information solutions.

Several areas of application such as Agriculture, Soil, Bio-resources and Environment, Ocean Resources, Water Resources, Rural Development, Urban Development, and Disaster Management etc., which are of direct consequence to the nation are executed by ISRO/DOS centers like National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Space Application Centre (SAC), Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSCs), North Eastern - Space Application Centre (NE - SAC) and State Remote Sensing Centers and State/Central Agencies.

Five were set up in Bangalore, Dehra Dun, Jodhpur, Kharagpur and Nagpur support the various remote sensing tasks specific to their regions as well as at the national level. A separate Space Center with both Remote Sensing and Communication facilities has been set up in the northeastern part of the country.

These centers have sophisticated computer facilities for image analysis and GIS to cater to the user’s needs and participate actively in areas like disaster management, software development, agro-climatic planning, national drinking water mission, national resources census, large scale mapping, etc, besides taking up projects for various ministries and departments.

The Student Satellite

2011-03-08T14:38:00.003+05:30

Student Satellite (STUDSAT) is the first Pico-satellite developed in the country by a consortium of seven engineering colleges from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. STUDSAT weighing less than 1 kg, has the primary objective of promoting space technology in educational institutions and encourage research and development in miniaturized satellites, establishing a communication link between the satellite and ground station, capturing the image of earth with a resolution of 90 meters and transmitting the payload and telemetry data to the earth station.

Mission	Experimental/Small Satellite
Weight	Less than 1 kg
Altitude	630 km
Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous

About Tracking Facility

2011-03-07T12:46:00.003+05:30

ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) provide mission support to low-earth orbit satellites as well as launch vehicle missions. ISTRAC has its headquarters and a multi-mission spaceship Control Centre at Bangalore. It has a network of ground stations at Bangalore, Luck now, Sriharikota, Port Blair and Thiruvananthapuram in India besides stations at Mauritius, Bearslake (Russia), Brunei and Biak (Indonesia).

ISTRAC activities are organized into network operations, network augmentation, mission operation and spacecraft health monitoring, communications and computers and control centre facilities and development projects. Programme planning and reliability groups support ISTRAC activities.

The Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN), commissioned during the year 2008, at Byalalu village near Bangalore forms the Ground segment for providing deep space support for India's prestigious and first Lunar mission, the Chandrayaan-1.The technical facilities in IDSN include a 32 meter Deep Space Antenna, an 18 meter Antenna Terminal, an 11 meter Antenna Terminal, Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) and a Technical Services complex.

The IDSN is the first of its kind project in the country that provides ISRO the capability to handle deep space missions of India and also provides cross support to other deep space missions of exterior space agencies because of its inter-operable features and state-of-the-art capabilities.

About Launching Facility

2011-02-25T16:34:00.003+05:30

SDSC SHAR has the necessary infrastructure for launching satellite into low earth orbit, polar orbit and geostationary transfer orbit. The launch complexes provide entire support for vehicle assembly, fuelling, checkout and launch operations. Apart from these, it has facilities for launching sounding rockets meant for studying the earth's atmosphere.

First Launch Pad:

The individual stages of PSLV or GSLV, their subsystems and the spacecraft are ready and checked out in separate facilities before they are sent to launch pad for integration A-76-meter tall mobile service tower (MST) facilitates the vertical integration of the vehicle.

The foldable working platforms of MST provide access to the vehicle at various elevations. An enormous launch pedestal, made up of steel plates, acts as the base on which the vehicle is integrated.

The spacecraft is integrated to the vehicle in a clean room, set up inside the MST. However, in the case of GSLV, the spacecraft is interfaced with the payload adopter and then encapsulated in the heat shield in the preparation facility itself.

The encapsulated assembly is moved to the launch pad for integrating with the 3rd stage of GSLV. The umbilical tower houses the feed lines for liquid propellants and high-pressure gases, checkout cables, and frozen air duct for supplying cool air to the satellite and equipment bay.

The Antrix Co operation

2011-02-24T18:32:00.005+05:30

Antrix Corporation Limited is a wholly owned by Government of India Company under the administrative control of the Department of Space, Government of India.

Antrix Corporation Limited was incorporated as a private limited company owned by Government of India, in September 1992 as a Marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.

Another major objective is to facilitate development of space related industrial capabilities in India.

As the commercial & marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Antrix is engaged in providing Space products & services to international customers worldwide. Antrix, which is an INR 950 Cr. Company in 2007-08, got the "Miniratna" status by the Government of India in 2008.

With fully prepared state-of-the-art facilities, Antrix is a one-stop-shop for any of the space products, ranging from supply of hardware and software including simple subsystems to a complex spacecraft, for varied applications covering communications, earth observation, scientific missions; space related service including remote sensing data series, Transponders lease service; Launch services through the operational launch vehicles (PSLV and GSLV); Mission support services; and a host of consultancy and training services are also offered by Antrix.

Technoloy Transfer And Industry Co-operation

2011-02-11T18:46:00.004+05:30

The Indian space program has been pursuing a logical and well defined policy for transfer of know how products / technologies developed by the Indian Space Centers. The objectives have been manifold, viz., to facilitate greater participation of Indian industries in various space projects, their applications in the commercial domain and to take benefit of ‘Spin-Offs’ of such technologies.

Accomplishment of this policy has yielded considerable results in terms of gearing up significant industrial participation in the space programme through provision of various products and services by industry relevant to applications involving space systems such as satellites, communications, broadcasting, meteorological services and geospatial information services, as well as the technology transfer from ISRO.

The technology transfer mechanism established during early eighties enables licensing of know-how from various ISRO centers for commercial exploitation. Over 290 technologies have been successfully transferred and productionised in industries in the fields of electronic and computer based systems, speciality polymer, chemicals and materials, electro optical instruments, mechanical equipments and ground systems related to satellite communications, broadcasting and meteorology. Industries in the large, medium and small scale sectors have largely been beneficiaries of the technology transfer scheme.

ISRO has executed over 270 consultancy projects in high technology areas to provide support to various industries.

Simultaneously, ISRO has been investing in developing a patent portfolio, which now consists of over 250 patents, 35 copyrights and 10 trademarks. Even in this area, while ISRO’s objective has been to safeguard the technologies developed in ISRO Centers, the approach has been turned towards enabling maximal commercial exploitation of such resources through suitable technology transfers or licensing schemes.

Right to know information

2011-01-19T18:03:00.000+05:30

Implementation of Right to Information Act 2005 - Status as on December 31, 2008
Organisation, functions and duties
Power and duties of the Officers and Employees
Procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability
Norms set by the Department of Space for the discharge of its functions
Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records of the Department of Space used by its employees for discharging its functions
Statement of the categories of documents held by the Department of Space or under its control
Statement of boards, councils, committees and other bodies, and as to whether meetings of such boards, etc., are open to public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible to public
Directory of officers holding functional designations
Number of Officers/Employees and structure of emoluments
Budget 2009-2010 of the Department of Space
Manner of execution of subsidy programmers and details of beneficiaries of such programmers

The Students Corner

2011-01-12T17:30:00.001+05:30

The beginning and growth of Indian Space program me is closely knitted with an old fishermen hamlet in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Five km down west, in the verdant settings of the Thumba beach, the space museum, a permanent exhibition set inside the erstwhile St.Mary Magdalene Church unravels the golden successes of Indian space programme.

With real size models and scaled down models of launch vehicles and satellites, one gets to feel proud of our national achievements in space.

The original Space Recovery Experiment (SRE) capsule recovered from space after 12 days in orbit and the breath-taking movie giving the feel of being near the real launch pad makes a visit to space museum an extraordinary experience.

About ISRO Education & Training

2011-01-07T14:59:00.006+05:30

Education and training in space science and technology is an important part of the Indian Space Programme. Following are the major efforts by Department of Space (DOS) towards Human Resources Development in the part of space science and technology:

Towards capacity building, DOS has established an Institute, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to meet the upward demands of the Indian Space Programme. The institute offers, Bachelors degree in Space Technology with specialization in Avionics, Aerospace Engineering and Physical Sciences.

The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) under National Remote Sensing Centre, is a premier training and educational institute set up for developing trained professional in the field of Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural Resources and Disaster Management. IIRS has trained thousands of scientists / engineers from India and hundreds of foreign students from various countries of Asia and Africa.
In the wake of the need for regional self-reliance and self-sustenance in Space science and technology CSSTEAP Dehradun, came into existence under affiliation to the United Nations in India supported by DOS during 1995.
Apart from these, National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) supports conduct of multi-theme and multi-level training program me / awareness workshops by training personnel from different line departments, selected State Remote Sensing Application Centers and ISRO / DOS Centers. About 350 professionals / University faculty members / School teachers and students are being trained once a year.

Towards, Long-term collaboration for Human Resources Development in the area of Remote Sensing and GIS on a regular basis, NNRMS has made arrangements with (i) Geological Survey of India training Institute, Hyderabad, (ii) National Water Academy, CWC, Pune, (iii) National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land use Planning, ICAR, Nagpur. These institutions commonly conduct training programe for the profit of in-service professionals as well as researchers.

Realizing the importance of Space technology, many Universities / Educational Institutions have started offering educational programmes in remote sensing & GIS / Geoinformatics, abiding the curricula standardized by NNRMS.

About Space Mission

2011-01-06T15:39:00.003+05:30

Indian space programmed encompasses a research in areas like astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and earth sciences, atmospheric sciences and theoretical physics.

Balloons, sounding rockets, space platforms and ground-based facilities support these investigate efforts.

A series of sounding rockets are offered for atmospheric experiments.

Several scientific instruments have been flown on satellites especially to direct celestial X-ray and gamma-ray bursts.

About Remote Sensing Applications

2011-01-04T18:16:00.002+05:30

Remote sensing has enabled mapping, studying, monitoring and management of a variety of resources like agriculture, forestry, geology, water, ocean etc.

It has further enabled monitoring of environment and thus helping in conservation.

In the last four decades it has grown as a major tool for collecting information on approximately every aspect on the earth. With the availability of very high spatial resolution satellites in the recent years, the applications have multiplied.

In India remote sensing has been used for different applications during the last four decades and has contributed significantly towards development.

India has its own satellites like Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) series - Resourcesat, Cartosat, Oceansat etc which provide necessary data for carrying out various projects. Some of the important projects carried out in the country include Groundwater Prospects Mapping under Drinking Water Mission, Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro meteorology and Land based observations (FASAL), Forest Cover/Type Mapping, Grassland Mapping, Biodiversity Characterization, Snow & Glacier Studies, Land Use/Cover mapping, Coastal Studies, Coral and Mangroves Studies, Wasteland Mapping etc.

The information generated by large number of projects have been used by various departments, industries and others for different purposes like development planning, monitoring, conservation etc.

village resource centre

2010-12-31T17:51:00.003+05:30

To provide the space technology enabled services directly to the rural population, ISRO launched the Village Resource Centers (VRCs) programmed in association with reputed NGOs/ Trusts and state/ central agencies.

473 VRCs have been set up in 22 States/Union Territories, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim. Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and islands.

The VRCs are joined to Knowledge/Expert Centers like Agricultural Universities, Skill Development Institutes and Hospitals.

Over 6500 programmes have been conducted by the VRCs in the areas of, Agriculture/horticulture, Fisheries, Live stock, Water resources, Tele health care, Awareness programmes, Women empowerment, Supplementary education, Computer literacy, Micro credit, Micro finance, Skill development / vocational training for livelihood support etc. So far, over five Lakh of people have availed VRC services.

Chandrayan 1

2010-12-30T17:45:00.001+05:30

Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to Moon, was launched successfully on October 22, 2008 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
The spacecraft was orbiting around the Moon at a height of 100 km from the lunar surface for chemical, mineralogical and photo-geologic mapping of the Moon.

The spacecraft carries 11 scientific instruments built in India, USA, UK, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria.

After the successful completion of all the major mission objectives, the orbit has been raised to 200 km during May 2009.

About NRC data center

2010-12-29T16:19:00.002+05:30

The NRSC Data Centre (NDC) is address to the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) Data Archive and is the satellite data users’ interface with NRSC. NDC provides data and data related services to the Indian and International users and as well as data from foreign satellites, to the Indian users. Data from the IRS, Cart sat and Ocean sat series of satellites across a wide spectrum of resolution from 1m to 4km swath are supplied to about 2000 users in the country. The Indian clientele belong to various categories like:

* User Ministries/Departments of the Central Government

* Remote Sensing Agencies in State Governments and Union Territories

* Quasi Government Organizations’, NGOs and the private sector for developmental purposes through satellite imaging.

* Educational institutions in promotion of research and development in space science and technology.

International data propagation is channeled through ANTRIX Corporation Ltd. resellers and distributors and the international ground stations.

NDC have end to end responsibilities right from generating a customer query and response to a query, receipt of order, determining feasibilities, generation of technical proposal, financial proposal, screening of the archived data, attainment of the data by collection planning ,generation and delivery .It is also a repository of data ordering tools like order forms , price lists , digital referencing maps , handbooks , leaflets and in-house publications and these are also available as e-copies in the NRSC website.

Today, NDC has reached a stage where the 'Product Turnaround Time' has improved from one month to few days to few hours of attainment and around 50,000 products are supplied annually. This was achievable due to technological advancements in data processing, data handling, data transfer through the net in close to real time and electronic delivery.

Earth Observation Satilite

2010-12-23T18:09:00.002+05:30

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite system was commissioned with the launch of IRS-1A, in 1988. With nine satellites in operation, IRS is the largest civilian remote sensing satellite constellation in the world providing imageries in a variety of spatial resolutions, spectral bands and swaths. The data is used for several applications covering agriculture, water resources, urban development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, drought and flood forecasting, ocean resources and disaster management.

CARTOSAT:

CARTOSAT - 2B is the seventeenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite series (IRS). CARTOSAT-2B carries a panchromatic camera (PAN) similar to those of its predecessors - CARTOSAT-2 and 2A. It is capable of imaging a swath (geographical strip) of 9.6 km with a resolution of better than 1 meter. The scene specific spot imagery sent by CARTOSAT-2B's PAN will be useful for cartographic and a host of other applications. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2B is steerable up to ± 26o along as well as across track to obtain stereoscopic imagery and achieve a four to five day revisit capability.

Geo Stationary Satellites

2010-12-21T14:13:00.001+05:30

GSAT-4 was the nineteenth geo-stationary satellite of India built by ISRO and fourth in the GSAT series. GSAT-4 was basically an experimental satellite with the following new technologies intended to be tested:

* Electric Propulsion System
* Bus Management Unit
* 1553 Bus for Data Communication
* Miniaturised Dynamically Tuned Gyros
* 36 AH Lithium Ion Battery
* 70 V Bus for Ka band TWTAs

However, GSAT-4 was not placed in orbit as GSLV-D3 could not complete the mission.

About Tele Education

2010-12-16T15:40:00.001+05:30

The pivotal role of education as an instrument of social change by altering the human perspective and transforming the traditional mindset of society is well recognised.

Since independence, India has seen substantial increase in the number of educational institutions at primary, secondary and higher levels as well as the student enrolment.

But the lack of adequate rural educational infrastructure and non-availability of good teachers in sufficient numbers adversely affect the efforts made in education.

About Tele Education

2010-12-16T15:33:00.002+05:30

The pivotal role of education as an instrument of social change by altering the human perspective and transforming the traditional mindset of society is well recognised.

The universalisation of education has become the top priority, especially for the developing countries. But the extension of quality education to remote and rural regions becomes a Herculean task for a large country like India with multi-lingual and multi-cultural population separated by vast geographical distances, and, in many instances, inaccessible terrain.

Since independence, India has seen substantial increase in the number of educational institutions at primary, secondary and higher levels as well as the student enrolment.

But the lack of adequate rural educational infrastructure and non-availability of good teachers in sufficient numbers adversely affect the efforts made in education.

The Space Sciences

2010-12-14T16:14:00.000+05:30

Starting with ground based and balloon borne experiments in the 1940s, the Indian space science research activities were actually initiated with the launching of sounding rockets from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 to measure the equatorial electrojet parameters. Since then large number of rocket and balloon borne experiments have provided new data on upper atmospheric phenomena, cosmic rays and energetic x-ray and gamma rays. With the advent of satellite era, scientific experimental payloads have been launched starting from the first Indian satellite Aryabhata.

In the recent past a number of Indian space science projects / programmes have been completed or on going. Major ones are as follows:
Astronomy: GRB-SROSS-C2, IXAE-IRS-P3, SOXS-GSAT2, (completed projects), ASTROSAT, Indian RT-2 experiment on Coronas-Photon Russian Mission
Solar-Terrestrial Physics: IMAP, RPA-SROSS-C2, Middle Atmospheric Dynamics (MIDAS), (completed projects), Coherent Radio Beacon Experiment (CRABEX), CAWSES-India
Planetary Science/ Exploration: National level Planetary Science/Exploration Programme, PLANEX, Chandrayaan-1
Environment & Climate: Megha-Tropiques,
Micro-Gravity Science experiments for SRE-1 and SRE-2

The recent initiatives and ongoing projects: Chandrayaan-1, ASTROSAT, Megha-Tropiques, RT-2, CRABEX, PLANEX, SRE science experiments etc., would provide exciting opportunities to attract young research scientists and students to space science arena. Special effort is being made to organise training workshops, create special awareness and fellowships etc., to enable participation by students and scientists from universities and academic institutions. With the initiation of these major space science missions and their realisation, considerable interest and expertise have been generated and scientists have come up with proposals for new missions.

ISRO actively supports space science research in universities and research institutions on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Space Science (ADCOS) and participates in national and international scientific campaign.

About PSLV-C11

2010-12-10T19:02:00.001+05:30

PSLV-C11, chosen to launch Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, was an uprated version of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle standard configuration. Weighing 320 tonnes at lift-off, the vehicle used larger strap-on motors (PSOM-XL) to achieve higher payload capability.

PSLV is the trusted workhorse launch Vehicle of ISRO. During September 1993- April 2008 period, PSLV had twelve consecutively successful launches carrying satellites to Sun Synchronous, Low Earth and Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits. On October 22, 2008, its fourteenth flight launched Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft.

By mid 2008, PSLV had repeatedly proved its reliability and versatility by launching 29 satellites into a variety of orbits. Of these, ten remote sensing satellites of India, an Indian satellite for amateur radio communications, a recoverable Space Capsule (SRE-1) and fourteen satellites from abroad were put into polar Sun Synchronous Orbits (SSO) of 550-820 km heights. Besides, PSLV has launched two satellites from abroad into Low Earth Orbits of low or medium inclinations. This apart, PSLV has launched KALPANA-1, a weather satellite of India, into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

PSLV was initially designed by ISRO to place 1,000 kg class Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into 900 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbits. Since the first successful flight in October 1994, the capability of PSLV was successively enhanced from 850 kg to 1,600 kg. In its ninth flight on May 5, 2005 from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), PSLV launched ISRO's remote sensing satellite,1,560 kg CARTOSAT-1 and the 42 kg Amateur Radio satellite, HAMSAT, into a 620 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. The improvement in the capability over successive flights has been achieved through several means. They include increased propellant loading in the stage motors, employing composite material for the satellite mounting structure and changing the sequence of firing of the strap-on motors.

PSLV-C11 is 44.4 metre tall and has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage, carrying 138 tonne of propellant, is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world. Six solid propellant strap-on motors (PSOM-XL), each carrying twelve tonne of solid propellant, are strapped on to the first stage. The second stage carries 41.5 tonne of liquid propellant. The third stage uses 7.6 tonne of solid propellant and the fourth has a twin engine configuration with 2.5 tonne of liquid propellant.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, designed and developed PSLV-C11. ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) at Thiruvananthapuram developed the inertial systems for the vehicle.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), also at Thiruvananthapuram, developed the liquid propulsion stages for the second and fourth stages of PSLV-C11 as well as reaction control systems. SDSC SHAR processed the solid motors and carries out launch operations. ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) provides telemetry, tracking and command support during PSLV-C11's flight.

NASA Mars Rover Images Honor Apollo

2010-12-08T17:38:00.001+05:30

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has visited and photographed two craters informally named for the spacecraft that carried men to the moon 41 years ago this week.

Opportunity drove past "Yankee Clipper" crater on Nov. 4 and reached "Intrepid crater" on Nov. 9. For NASA's Apollo 12, the second mission to put humans onto the moon, the command and service module was called Yankee Clipper, piloted by Dick Gordon, and the lunar module was named Intrepid, piloted by Alan Bean and commanded by the late Pete Conrad. The Intrepid landed on the moon with Bean and Conrad on Nov. 19, 1969, while Yankee Clipper orbited overhead. Their landing came a mere four months after Apollo 11's first lunar landing.

This week, Bean wrote to the Mars Exploration Rover team: "I just talked with Dick Gordon about the wonderful honor you have bestowed upon our Apollo 12 spacecraft. Forty-one years ago today, we were approaching the moon in Yankee Clipper with Intrepid in tow. We were excited to have the opportunity to perform some important exploration of a place in the universe other than planet Earth where humans had not gone before. We were anxious to give it our best effort. You and your team have that same opportunity. Give it your best effort."

Rover science team member James Rice, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., suggested using the Apollo 12 names. He was applying the rover team's convention of using names of historic ships of exploration for the informal names of craters that Opportunity sees in the Meridian Planum region of Mars.

"The Apollo missions were so inspiring when I was young, I remember all the dates. When we were approaching these craters, I realized we were getting close to the Nov. 19 anniversary for Apollo 12," Rice said. He sent Bean and Gordon photographs that Opportunity took of the two craters.

The images are available online at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13593 and http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13596. Intrepid crater is about 20 meters (66 feet) in diameter. Yankee Clipper crater is about half that width.

After a two-day stop to photograph the rocks exposed at Intrepid, Opportunity continued on a long-term trek toward Endeavour crater, a highly eroded crater about 1,000 times wider than Intrepid. Endeavour's name comes from the ship of James Cook's first Pacific voyage.

During a drive of 116.9 meters (383.5 feet) on Nov. 14, Opportunity's "odometer" passed 25 kilometers (15.53 miles). That is more than 40 times the driving-distance goal set for Opportunity to accomplish during its original three-month prime mission in 2004.

Mars Exploration Project Manager John Callas, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., said, "Importantly, it's not how far the rovers have gone but how much exploration and science discovery they have accomplished on behalf of all humankind."

At the beginning of Opportunity's mission, the rover landed inside "Eagle crater," about the same size as Intrepid crater. The team's name for that landing-site crater paid tribute to the lunar module of Apollo 11, the first human landing on the moon. Opportunity spent two months inside Eagle crater, where it found multiple lines of evidence for a wet environment in the area's ancient past.

The rover team is checking regularly for Opportunity's twin, Spirit, in case the increasing daily solar energy available at Spirit's location enables the rover to reawaken and resume communication. No signal from Spirit has been received since March 22. Spring began last week in the southern hemisphere of Mars.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rovers for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

Cartosat - 2B

2010-10-19T18:15:00.003+05:30

Cartosat-2B Launch Date : 12.07.2010

CARTOSAT - 2B is the seventeenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite series (IRS). CARTOSAT-2B carries a Panchromatic camera (PAN) similar to those of its predecessors - CARTOSAT-2 and 2A. It is capable of imaging a swath (geographical strip) of 9.6 km with a resolution of better than 1 metre. The scene specific spot imagery sent by CARTOSAT-2B's PAN will be useful for cartographic and a host of other applications. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2B is steerable up to ± 26^o along as well as across track to obtain stereoscopic imagery and achieve a four to five day revisit capability.

Mission	Remote Sensing
Weight	694 kg (Mass at lift off)
Onboard Orbit	930 Watts
Stabilization	3 – axis body stabilised based on inputs from star sensors and gyros using Reaction wheels, Magnetic Torquers and Hydrazine Thrusters
Payloads	Panchromatic Camera
Launch date	July 12, 2010
Launch site	SHAR Centre Sriharikota India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C15
Orbit	630 kms, Polar Sun Synchronous
Inclination	97.71º

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/cartosat-2b.aspx

Oceansat - 2

2010-10-10T18:00:00.001+05:30

Oceansat - 2 Launch Date : 23.09.2009

Oceansat-2 satellite mainframe systems derive their heritage from previous IRS missions and launched by PSLV-C14 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on Sept. 23, 2009. It carries three payloads:

Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM)
Ku-band Pencil Beam scatterometer (SCAT) developed by ISRO
Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmosphere (ROSA) developed by the Italian Space Agency.

Oceansat-2 is envisaged to provide continuity of operational services of Oceansat-1(IRS-P4) with enhanced application potential.

Launch date	Sept 23, 2009
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota
Launch vehicle	PSLV - C14
Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous
Altitude	720 km
Inclination	98.28°
Period	99.31 minutes
Local time of Eq. crossing	12 noon ± 10 minutes
Repetitivity cycle	2 days
Payloads	OCM, SCAT and ROSA
Mass at lift off	960 kg
Power	15 Sq.m Solar panels generating 1360W, Two 24 Ah Ni-Cd Batteries
Mission Life	5 years

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/oceansat-2.aspx

RISAT - 2

2010-09-29T15:56:00.000+05:30

RISAT - 2 Launch Date 20.04.2009

RISAT - 2

RISAT-2 is a Radar Imaging Satellite with all weather capability to take images of the earth. This Satellite will enhance ISRO's capability for Disaster Management applications.

Altitude	550 km
Inclination	41 deg
Orbit Period	90 minutes
Mass	300 kg

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/RISAT-2.aspx

CARTOSAT - 2A

2010-09-24T17:47:00.000+05:30

CARTOSAT - 2A Launch Date 28.04.2008

CARTOSAT – 2A is the thirteenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite series (IRS). It is a sophisticated and rugged remote sensing satellite that can provide scene specific spot imagery. This satellite carries a Panchromatic Camera (PAN). The spatial resolution of this camera is better than 1m and swath of 9.6 km. Imageries from this satellite are used for cartographic applications like mapping, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as application in Land Information (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).

Mission	Remote Sensing
Weight	690 Kg (Mass at lift off)
Onboard Orbit	900 Watts
Stabilization	3 – axis body stabilised using high torque reaction wheels, magnetic torquers and hydrogen thrusters
Payloads	Panchromatic Camera
Launch date	28 April 2008
Launch site	SHAR Centre Sriharikota India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C9
Orbit	635 kms, Polar Sun Synchronous
Inclination	97.94 deg
Mission life	5 years

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/cartosat2A.aspx

IMS - 1

2010-09-20T17:38:00.000+05:30

IMS - 1 Launch Date 24.04.2008

IMS-1, previously referred to as TWSat (Third World Satellite), is a low-cost microsatellite imaging mission of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).

Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous
Altitude	635 km
Mission Life	2 years
Physical Dimensions	0.604x0.980x1.129 m
Mass	83 kg
Power	Two deployable sun pointing solar panels generating 220 W power, 105 Ah Lithium ion battery
Telemetry, Tracking and Command	S-band
Atlitude and Orbit Control System	Star Sensor, Miniature Sun Sensors, Magnetometers Gyros, Miniature Micro Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers, single 1 N Hydrazine Thruster
Data Handling	S-band
Data Storage	16 Gb Solid State Recorder

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/ims-1.aspx

CARTOSAT - 2

2010-09-09T17:26:00.001+05:30

CARTOSAT - 2 Launch Date 10.01.2007

Mission	Remote Sensing
Weight	650 Kg
Onboard Orbit	900 Watts
Stabilization	3 - axis body stabilised using high torque reaction wheels, magnetic torquers and thrusters
Payloads	Panchromatic Camera
Launch date	10 January 2007
Launch site	SHAR Centre Sriharikota India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C7
Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous
Mission life	5 years

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/cartosat-2.aspx

CARTOSAT - 1

2010-09-08T17:15:00.000+05:30

CARTOSAT - 1 Launch Date05.05.2005

CARTOSAT – 1 is the first India Remote Sensing Satellite capable of providing in-orbit stereo images. The images are used for Cartographic applications meeting the global requirements. Cameras of this satellite have a resolution of 2.5m (can distinguish a small car).

The Cartosat – 1 provides stereo pairs required for generating Digital Elevation Models, Ortho Image products, and Value added products for various applications of Geographical Information System (GIS).

Launch date	5 May 2005
Launch site	SHAR Centre Sriharikota India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C6
Orbit	618 km Polar Sun Synchronous
Payloads	PAN FORE, PAN – AFT
Orbit Period	97 min
Number of Orbits Per day	14
Local time of equator crossing	10:30 am
Repetivity	126 days
Revisit	5 days
Lift-Off mass	1560 kg
Attitude and orbit control	3-axis body stabillised using reaction wheels, Magnetic Torquers and Hydrazine Thrusters
Electrical power	15 sqm Solar Array generating 1100w, Two 24 Ah Ni-Cd batteries
Mission life	5 years

IRS P6 / RESOURCESAT-1

2010-09-06T17:01:00.005+05:30

IRS P6 / RESOURCESAT-1 Launch Date 17.10.2003

RESOURCESAT-1 is the tenth satellite of ISRO in IRS series, intended to not only continue the remote sensing data services provided by IRS-1C and IRS-1D, both of which have far outlived their designed mission lives, but also to vastly enhance the data quality. RESOURCESAT-1 is the most advanced Remote Sensing Satellite built by ISRO as of 2003.

Launch date	October 17, 2003
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota
Launch vehicle	PSLV-C5
Payloads	LISS-4, LISS-3, AWiFS-A, AWiFS-B
Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous
Orbit height	817 km
Orbit inclination	98.7^o
Orbit period	101.35 min
Number of Orbits Per day	14
Local time of equator crossing	10:30 am
Repetivity (LISS-3)	24 days
Revisit	5 days
Lift-Off mass	1360 kg
Attitude and orbit control	3-axis body stabilised using Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers and Hydrazine Thrusters
Power	Solar Array generating 1250 W, Two 24 Ah Ni-Cd batteries
Mission Life	5 years

For More: http://www.isro.org/satellites/irs-p6resourcesat-1.aspx

Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)

2010-09-04T16:43:00.000+05:30

Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) Launch Date 22.10.2001

The Technology Experiment Satellite (TES), weighing 1108 kg, was launched on October 22,2001. TES is an experimental satellite to demonstrate and validate the technologies like attitude and orbit control system, high-torque reaction wheels, new reaction control system, light-weight spacecraft structure, solid state recorder, X-band phased array antenna, improved satellite positioning system, miniaturised TTC and power systems and, two-mirror-on-axis camera optics.

TES also carried a panchromatic camera for remote sensing experiments.

Launch date	22 October 2001
Launch site	SHAR Centre Sriharikota India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C3
Orbit	572 kms Sun Synchronous
Payloads	PAN

IRS-P4 Ocean Sat

2010-09-03T16:30:00.003+05:30

IRS-P4 Ocean Sat Launch Date 26.05.1999

IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT) is the first satellite primarily built for Ocean applications, weighing 1050 kg placed in a Polar Sun Synchronous orbit of 720 km, launched by PSLV-C2 from SHAR Centre, Sriharikota on May 26, 1999.

This satellite carries Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and a Multi - frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) for oceanographic studies. IRS-P4 thus vastly augment the IRS satellite system of ISRO comprising four satellites, IRS-1B, IRS-1C, IRS-P3 and IRS-1D and extend remote sensing applications to several newer areas.

Launch date	May 26, 1999
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota
Launch vehicle	PSLV - C2
Orbit	Polar Sun Synchronous
Altitude	720 km
Inclination	98.28 deg
Period	99.31 min
Local time of Eq. crossing	12 noon
Repetitivity cycle	2 days
Size	2.8m x 1.98m x 2.57m
Mass at lift off	1050 kg
Length when fully deployed	11.67 m
Attitude and Orbit Control	3-axis body-stabilised using Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers and Hydrazine Thrusters
Power	9.6 Sq.m Solar Array generating 750w Two 21 Ah Ni-Cd Battries
Mission Life	5 years

Indian Remote Sensing Satellites System (IRS)

2010-09-01T14:45:00.003+05:30

Indian Remote Sensing Satellites System (IRS)

The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite system is one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation in the world today. The IRS programme commissioned with launch of IRS-1A in 1988 and presently includes Ten satellites that continue to provide imageries in variety of spatial resolutions from better than a metre ranging upto 500 metres.

1.	CARTOSAT-2B	Launched on July 12, 2010 by PSLV-C15
2.	OCEANSAT-2	Launched on Sept 23, 2009 by PSLV-C14
3.	RISAT-2	Launched on Apr 20, 2009 by PSLV-C12
4.	CARTOSAT-2A	Launched on Apr 28, 2008 by PSLV-C9
5.	IMS-1	Launched on Apr 28, 2008 by PSLV-C9
6.	CARTOSAT - 2	Launched on Jan 10, 2007 by PSLV-C7
7.	CARTOSAT-1	Launched on May 05, 2005 by PSLV-C6
8.	RESOURCESAT-1	Launched on Oct 17, 2003 by PSLV-C5
9.	TES	Launched on Oct 22, 2001 by PSLV-C3
10.	OCEANSAT-1	Launched on May 26, 1999 by PSLV-C2

For More : http://www.isro.org/scripts/currentprogrammein.aspx

INSAT - 4CR

2010-08-19T19:20:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 4CR Launch Date 02.09.2007

INSAT - 4CR

INSAT–4CR spacecraft is configured with exclusive Ku band employing the I-2K Bus with a mass of 2130 Kg. It was injected into the orbit by GSLV-F04 rocket with enhanced Russian Cryogenic engine and co-located at 74^o East longitude along with INSAT–3C / Kalpana–1 / GSAT–3 (EDUSAT).

INSAT-4CR carries 12 high-power Ku-band transponders designed to provide Direct-to-home (DTH) television services, Video Picture Transmission (VPT) and Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG).

Mission	Communication
Weight	2,130 kg (Mass at Lift – off)
Onboard power	3000 W
Communication Payload	12 Ku-band transponders employing 140 W Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTA) Ku-band Beacon
Launch date	September 2, 2007
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota, India
Launch vehicle	GSLV-F04
Orbit	Geosynchronous (74° E)
Mission life	12 Years

INSAT - 4B

2010-08-19T19:15:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 4B Launch Date 12.03.2007

INSAT-4B

INSAT–4B Spacecraft is the second in the INSAT 4 series of spacecrafts and is configured with exclusive communication payloads to provide services in Ku and C frequency bands. This is co-located with INSAT–3A at 93.5 ^o E longitude.

Mission	Communication
Weight	3025 Kg (at Lift – off)
Onboard Power	5859 W
Stabilization	It uses 3 earth sensors, 2 digital sun sensors, 8 coarse analog sun sensors, 3 solar panel sun sensors and one sensor processing electronics. The wheels and wheel drive electronics were imported with indigenous wheel interface module to interface the wheel drive electronics and AOCE.
Propulsion	The propulsion system is employing 16 thrusters, 4 each located on east, west and AY sides and 2 each on north and south sides. There is one 440 N liquid apogee motor (using Mono Methyl Hydrazine (MMH) as fuel and oxides of Nitrogen ( MON3 as oxidizer) and three presurant tanks mounted on the LAM deck.
Payload	12 Ku band high power transponders covering Indian main land using 140W radiatively cooled TWTAs.
Payload	12 C band high power transponders with extended coverage, covering southeast and northwest region apart from Indian main land using 63 W TWTAs
Launch date	March 12, 2007
Launch Site	French Guyana
Launch Vehicle	Ariane5
Orbit	Geostationary (93.5^o E Longitude)
Mission Life	12 Years

INSAT - 4A

2010-08-19T19:09:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 4A Launch Date 22.12.2005

INSAT-4A

INSAT-4A, first in INSAT-4 Satellites series provides services in Ku and C-band frequency bands. The Ku transponders cover the Indian main land and C-Band transponders cover an extended area. It has a dozen Ku transponders and another dozen of C-band transponders. This spacecraft is placed at 83^o E along with INSAT-2E and INSAT-3B, by Ariane launch vehicle (ARIANE5-V169).

Spacecraft Mass	Lift off 3081 Kg Dry Mass 1386.55 Kg
Orbit	Geostationary ( 83^o E)
Power	Solar Array to provide a power of 5922 W
Battery	Three 70 Ah Ni H2 Batteries for eclipse support of 4264 W
Life	12 Years
Launch date	December 22, 2005
Launch vehicle	ARIANE5-V169

EDUSAT

2010-08-17T13:08:00.000+05:30

EDUSAT Launch Date 20.09.2004

EDUSAT

GSAT-3, known as EDUSAT is meant for distant class room education from school level to higher education. This is the first dedicated "Educational Satellite" that provide the country with satellite based two way communication to class room for delivering educational materials.

This is a Geo-synchronous satellite developed on I-2K bus. GSAT-3 is co-located with METSAT(KALPANA-1) and INSAT-3C at 74o E longitude.

Mission	Education
Spacecraft Mass	1950.5 Kg mass (at Lift - off) 819.4 Kg (Dry mass)
Onboard power	Total four solar panel of size 2.54 M x 1.525 M generating 2040 W (EOL), two 24 AH NiCd batteries for eclipse support
Stabilization	3 axis body stabilised in orbit using sensors, momentum and reaction wheels, magnetic torquers and eight 10 N & 22N reaction control thrusters.
Propulsion	440 N Liquid Apogee Motor with MON - 3 and MMH for orbit raising
Payload	Six upper extended C - band transponders Five lower Ku band transponders with regional beam coverage One lower Ku band National beam transponder with Indian main land coverage Ku beacon 12 C band high power transponders with extended coverage, covering southeast and northwest region apart from Indian main land using 63 W LTWTAs
Launch date	September 20, 2004
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota, India
Launch vehicle	GSLV-F01
Orbit	Geostationary (74^oE longitude)
Mission Life	7 Years (minimum)

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/edusat.aspx

INSAT - 3E

2010-08-17T12:54:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 3E Launch Date 28.09.2003

INSAT - 3E

INSAT-3E is the fourth satellite launched in the INSAT-3 series. It is an exclusive communication satellite to further augment the communication services that are being provided by the INSAT System. Weighing 2775 kg at lift-off, INSAT-3E carries 24 Normal C-band and 12 Extended C-band transponders.

For More : http://www.isro.org/satellites/insat-3e.aspx

Mission	Communication
Spacecraft Mass	2,775 Kg (Mass at Lift-off) 1218 Kg (Dry mass)
Launch date	September 28, 2003
Launch site	French Guyana
Launch vehicle	Ariane5-V162
Orbit	Geostationary Orbit

GSAT - 2

2010-08-14T12:45:00.000+05:30

GSAT - 2 Launch Date 08.05.2003

GSAT - 2

GSAT-2 is a 2000 kg class experimental communication satellite onboard the second developmental test flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-D2. The satellite carries four C-band transponders, two Ku-band transponders and a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) payload operating in S-band and C-band for forward link and return link respectively.

GSAT-2 also carries four scientific experimental payloads - Total Radiation Dose Monitor (TRDM), Surface Charge Monitor (SCM), Solar X-ray Spectrometer (SOXS) and Coherent Radio Beacon Experiment (CRABEX).

Mission	Communication
Weight	1800 Kg
Launch date	May 8, 2003
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota, India
Launch vehicle	GSLV–D2
Orbit	Geostationary orbit (48^oE longitude)

INSAT - 3A

2010-08-13T12:37:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 3A Launch Date 10.04.2003

INSAT - 3A

INSAT–3A, the third satellite in INSAT–3 series is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological and search and rescue services. It carries twenty four transponders – twelve operating in the normal C – band frequency, six in extended C band and six in Ku–band. INSAT–3A also carries a Ku–band beacon.

For Meteorological observation, INSAT–3A carries a three channel Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR). In addition, INSAT–3A carries a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera which operates in the visible and short wave infrared bands providing a spatial resolution of 1 km.

A Data Relay Transponder (DRT) operating in UHF band is incorporated for real time hydro meteorological data collection from unattended located on land and river basins. The data is then relayed in extended C–band to a central location.

INSAT–3A also carries another transponder for Satellite Aided Search and rescue (SA&ampR) as part of India’s contribution to the international Satellite Aided Search Programme.

Mission	Telecommunication, broadcasting and Meteorology
Spacecraft Mass	2,950 Kg (Mass at Lift–off) 1,348 Kg (Dry mass)
Onboard power	3,100 W
Stabilization	3 – axis body stabilised in orbit using momentum and reaction wheels, solar flaps, magnetic torquers and eight 10 N and eight 22 N reaction control thrusters
Propulsion	440 N Liquid Apogee Motor with MON-3 (Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen) and MMH (Mono Methyl Hydrazine) for orbit raising
Payload	Communication payload - 12 C – band transponders, - 6 upper extended C band transponders - 6 Ku band transponders - 1 Satellite Aided Search & Rescue transponders *Meteorological payload* - Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) with 2 km resolution in visible band and 8 km resolution in infrared and water vapour band - Charged Coupled Device (CCD) camera operating in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared band with 1 km resolution. - Data Relay Transponders (DRT)
Launch date	April 10, 2003
Launch site	French Guyana
Launch vehicle	Ariane5-V160
Orbit	Geostationary (93.5^o E longitude)
Mission life	12 Years

KALPANA - 1

2010-08-12T18:03:00.001+05:30

KALPANA - 1 Launch Date 12.09.2002

KALPANA - 1

METSAT (renamed as Kalpana - 1 on February 5, 2003 after the Indian born American Astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who died on February 1, 2003 in the US Space Shuttle Columbia disaster) is the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO.

Mission	Meteorological
Spacecraft Mass	1060 Kg mass (at Lift – off) 498 Kg (Dry mass)
Onboard Power	550 W
Payload	Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) Data Relay Transponder (DRT)
Launch date	12 September 2002
Launch site	SHAR, Sriharikota
Launch vehicle	PSLV – C4
Orbit	Geostationary (74 deg East longitude)
Mission	7 Years

INSAT-3C

2010-08-09T19:08:00.001+05:30

INSAT-3C Launch Date 24.01.2002

INSAT-3C

INSAT-3C, carrying Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) transponders, Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS) transponders and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) transponders is intended to continue the service of INSAT-2DT and INSAT-2C which were nearing their end to life besides improving and augmenting the INSAT system capacity. INSAT-3C is the second satellite of the INSAT-3 series. The first satellite, INSAT-3B was launched in March 2000.

Mission	Communication, broadcasting and Meteorology
Spacecraft Mass	2,650 Kg (Mass at Lift - off) 1218 Kg (Dry mass)
Onboard power	2765 W
Propulsion	Liquid Apogee Motor with fuel and oxidizer stored in separate titanium tanks and pressurant in Kevlar wound titanium tank.
Payload	24 C band transponders 6 Extended C - band Transponders 2 S - band Transponders
Launch date	January 24, 2002
Launch site	French Guyana
Launch vehicle	Ariane5-V147
Orbit	Geostationary (74^o longitude)
Mission Life	Very long

INSAT-3B

2010-08-09T18:59:00.001+05:30

INSAT-3B Launch Date 22.03.2000

INSAT-3B

INSAT – 3B is the first of the five ISRO built satellites under INSAT – 3 series to join INSAT system. INSAT – 3B is collocated with INSAT – 2E at 83 deg East Longitude. This satellite primarily serves to business communication, mobile communication and developmental communication;

It provides the first set to transponders for Swaran Jayanti Vidya Vikas Antariksh Upagraha Yojana (Vidya Vahini) for interactive training and developmental communication giving fillip to the training and developmental Communication channel of INSAT.

Mission	Communication and Meteorology
Spacecraft Mass	2,070 (Mass at Lift – off) 970 Kg (Dry mass)
Onboard power	1,712 W
Stabilization	3 – axis body stabilised biased momentum control system using earth sensors, sun sensors, inertial reference unit, momentum / reaction wheels, magnetic torquers and unified bi-propellant thrusters.
Propulsion	Liquid Apogee Motor with fuel and oxidizer stored in separate titanium tanks and pressurant in Kevlar wound titanium tank.
Payload	12 extended C – band Transponders Five Ku band Transponders Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)
Launch date	22nd March 2000
Launch site	French Guyana
Launch vehicle	Ariane -5
Orbit	Geostationary (83 deg East longitude)
Inclination	7 deg
Mission	Very long

INSAT - 2E

2010-08-06T14:32:00.000+05:30

INSAT - 2E Launch Date 03.04.1999

INSAT - 2E

INSAT - 2E, the last of the INSAT -2 series of satellites built by ISRO, is a multi - purpose satellite for telecommunication, television broadcasting and meteorological services.

The very High Resolution Radiometer will operate in three spectral bands with 2 km resolution in visible band and 8km resolution in thermal infrared and water vapour bands. The water vapour band has been introduced in the INSAT system for the first time. In addition, INSAT - 2E will also carry a Charge Coupled Device Camera, again for the first time in the INSAT. This camera will also operate in three spectral bands - visible, near infrared and short wave infrared - providing a spatial resolution of 1 km.

Mission	Communication and Meteorology
Spacecraft Mass	· 2,550 Kg (Mass at Lift-off) · 1150 Kg (Dry mass)
Launch date	03 April 1999
Launch site	French Guyana
Launch vehicle	Ariane – 42P
Orbit	Geosynchronous (83 deg east longitude)