 "Recent missions of ISRO")
India's space missions has been in a gradual growth momentum through launches in different spells, and has seen the 100th space mission of the country in 2012. The year 2012 has seen a few major satellite launches from ISRO, according to its latest annual report.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched two Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) from Sriharikota, around 118 Km away from Chennai, during 2012-13 including the 100th Indian space mission - PSLV-C21. It was the 21st successive successful launch of PSLV. There had been 23 continuously successful flights of PSLV, till July 2013.
Of the two launches, one orbited India’s Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) and the other a French Remote Sensing Satellite SPOT-6 and the Japanese satellite PROITERES. RISAT-1, launched on April 26, 2012, is state-of-the-art remote sensing satellite to provide data to Indian user community. It is the first microwave Radar Imaging Satellite built by ISRO. RISAT-1, using an active radar sensor system, namely, a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar imager, is an important microwave complement to its optical IRS series of earth observation missions.
More From This Section
RISAT-1 can image the Earth’s surface day and night as well as in adverse weather conditions. The 1858 kg RISAT-1 is the heaviest satellite launched by PSLV so far.
Besides, an advanced Indian Communication Satellite GSAT-10, carrying a total of 30 communications transponders in C, Extended C and Ku-bands as well as a two-channel GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands, was launched by European Ariane-V launch vehicle on September 29, 2012. RISAT-1, GSAT-10 as well as the two foreign satellites launched by PSLV are functioning well, it says. RISAT-1 and GSAT-10 has enhanced national capabilities for various space applications.
According to the annual report 2012-13, the Organisation has a constellation of nine communication satellites, one Meteorological satellite, 10 Earth observation satellites and one scientific satellite. It has further added a few satellites in July and August, this year.
SARAL, an oceanographic satellite built jointly by ISRO and the French space agency CNES was successfully launched on February 25, 2013 by PSLV-C20. SARAL carried a Ka-band altimeter and ARGOS data collection system payload.
The Indian space programme has been emphasising on the application-oriented efforts and the benefits accrued to the nation. The INSAT satellites has been offering services to the society in the area of tele-education and telemedicine, with tele-education network having about 56,000 class rooms connected to various academic institutions and universities. The ISRO Telemedicine network facilities cover 389 hospitals connecting 311 rural hospitals and 18 mobile vans to 60 super speciality hospitals providing health care to citizens, especially in rural areas.
PSLV C-22 was launched in the beginning of July, 2013, with IRNSS-1A, the first satellite of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) constellation onboard. Later in the month, INSAT-3D, a state-of-the art meteorological satellite with 6 channel Imager and 19 channel Sounder payloads, was launched .
GSAT-7, an advanced communication satellite built by ISRO to monitor weather through atmospheric sounding system, was launched in the end of August, this year.
According to the Report, activities for the realisation of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II with indigenous cryogenic engine is in progress. Besides, stage for launching communication and meteorological satellites of two ton class into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and GSLV-Mark III capable of launching four ton satellites are also in progress.
Research and development on semi-cryogenic propulsion engine, air breathing propulsion and re-usable launch vehicle technology are also being developed to reduce the cost of access to space. Development of critical technologies for undertaking human spaceflight has also made further progress, it added.
Chandrayaan-2, a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-1 with an Orbiter, Lander and Rover is expected to be launched onboard GSLV. It is designed to collect samples of lunar soil and conduct in-situ studies of chemical and mineralogical content that lunar soil.
It further states that plans are to launch GSAT-14 satellite, which is envisaged to increase extended C-band and Ku-band communication transponder capacity, with six Extended C-band and six Ku-band Transponders along with two Ka-Band Beacons is planned to be launched in GSLV-D5. This launch vehicle is expected to be launched in the middle of December, this year, according to reports.