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Cartosat-2...

Despite the recent failure of the launch of INSAT-4C, ISRO is determined to move ahead with the launch of other satellites.

The organization expects to make progress in the Remote Sensing area. The Cartosat-2 imagery satellite, which will carry a black-and-white camera that can collect images with a 1m resolution, will be placed into orbit by a PSLV before end of 2006.

CARTOSAT-2 will be an advanced remote sensing satellite with a single panchromatic camera capable of providing scene specific spot imageries for cartographic applications. The satellite will have high agility with capability to steer along and across the track up to +45 degrees. It will be placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 630 km. It will have a revisit period of 4 days, which can be improved to one day with suitable orbit manoeuvres. The panchromatic camera is designed to provide better than 1 m spatial resolution imageries with a swath of 10 km.

According to ISRO, “While the present GSLV carrying the Russian-supplied cryogenic stage is able to launch 2,000kg-size satellites into [geosynchronous transfer orbit], once the Russian-supplied cryogenic stage is replaced by India’s own cryogenic stage, which is now in an advanced stage of testing, the GSLV will be able to place up to 2,500kg-size satellites in [geosynchronous transfer orbit],”

The next-generation vehicle, dubbed GSLV-Mk 3, can place up to 4 tons into geosynchronous orbit. The first test of that vehicle is scheduled to take place in 2008. The agency’s smaller rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), had completed eight missions, which ISRO described as “the workhorse launch vehicle” for India.

posted by Sreedhar @ Thursday, August 17, 2006 0 Comments