Four nations keen to tap Cartosat 1

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully placed a remote sensing satellite""Cartosat 1"" in orbit, 18 minutes after a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The satellite presents ISRO with commercial opportunities as four countries""China, Japan, Germany and the UAE"" are interested in using its applications.

The 1,560 kilogram Cartosat 1 is the eleventh satellite in ISRO's remote sensing series, and is to be used for cartographic applications. Hamsat is meant for ham radio operators.

At a press conference in Sriharikota, ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair said the organisation would use Cartosat 1 in the first year for India's cartographic requirements (such satellites generally have a five-year life span). He said ISRO would look at exploiting the commercial potential of the satellite later.

The spacecraft was developed at a cost of Rs 250 crore and the launch vehicle cost Rs 75 crore, he said. The Hamsat cost another Rs 3 crore. Nair said the new launch pad, used to blast off the PSLV, cost Rs 400 crore, which was about 25 per cent of the cost of an equivalent facility in other countries.

The shorter turnaround time between launches from new launch pad also presents ISRO with commercial opportunities. Nair said the launch pad could be used for six launches a year, while ISRO's requirement was around 3-4.

ISRO currently has six remote sensing satellites in orbit. Both Cartosat 1 and Hamsat have been placed in a 618-kilometre high polar sun synchronous orbit. Both will orbit the earth from north to south.

Cartosat-1 has on board two high resolution panchromatic cameras that will help in creating accurate three-dimensional maps. Nair said while Cartosat 1 could be used in disaster assessment, it would not be adequate in the event of a tsunami, adding that a detector in the ocean would be more effective.

ISRO took the help of private companies in building the satellites and the launch pad.