ISRO Successfully Launches Weather Satellite SCATSAT-1
ISRO SCATSAT-1
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its satellite SCATSAT-1 for ocean and weather related studies from Sriharikota, Carrying the 377 kg SCATSAT-1 and seven other satellites.
- India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C35, lifted off from ISRO's first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9.12 AM on 26.09.2016.
- First Mission of PSLV is Launched its Payloads into two Different Orbits
- This was the first mission of PSLV in which it launched its payloads into two different orbits. The co-passenger satellites were from the US, Canada and Algeria besides from Indian Universities.
Weather Satellite SCATSAT-1
- ISRO's SCATSAT-1 can generate accurate data on wind patterns over the ocean surface. It is a continuity mission for the Oceansat-2, which has exhausted its operational life. The expected lifespan of SCATSAT-1 is expected to be five years.
Co-Passenger Satellites
- The seven other co-passengers in today’s mission included three small satellites from Algeria meant for earth observation, remote sensing and technology demonstration, a commercial high resolution imaging micro-satellite of an US agency, the nano-satellite NLS-19 of Canada to experiment on reduction of space debris and two nano-satellites of IIT, Bombay and the PES University, Bengaluru.
PSLV-C35 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) Created History
Multiple Satellites in two different Orbits:
- India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C35 created history by launching multiple satellites in two different orbits in space in a single mission this morning.
Eight Satellites:
- The launch vehicle lifted off with eight satellites on board including the primary payload SCATSAT-1 of India from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta.
- In its longest ever flight, the rocket weighing 320 ton during lift off put all the satellites successfully in their intended initial orbits in over 2 hours 15 minutes.
37th flight of the PSLV
- This is the 37th flight of the PSLV and the 15th journey in its extended version with solid strap on motors to give it the required additional thrust. This month, this is the second launch for the ISRO.
- The SCATSAT-1 is a continuity mission for the much acclaimed Oceansat-2 that has completed its operational life. Its accurate data is credited with forecasting precisely about the landfall of the Cyclone Phailin in October 2013 helping in taking sufficient precautionary measures and thereby reducing loss of lives significantly.
- Its successor, the SCATSAT-1, with the expected life period of five years, has more sophisticated features to generate data on wind vectors.
- The data could be correlated with the inputs of other meteorological satellites to arrive at an accurate picture of emerging weather situations.
- Algeria’s three payloads Alsat-1B, 2B and 1N are meant for earth observation, remote sensing and technology demonstration.
- The micro-satellite Pathfinder-1 is an US payload designed for commercial high resolution imaging services. The Canadian payload NLS-19 has been developed by students for experimenting on reduction of space debris.
- The IIT, Bombay’s nano-satellite PRATHAM is intended for total electron count in a given area.
- The Bengaluru-based PES University has made the PISAT with remote sensing apparatus.
- The ISRO chairman AS Kirankumar told media after the launch that the two solar panels and the antennae have been deployed and the health of the satellite is very sound.
- In a week's time, its scatterometer will start giving meteorological data like wind speed and direction in radio-frequency, he explained. It has star sensors for ensuring its stability in space.