July 10, 2021
GISAT-1 will be launched on board the GSLV-10 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
The rocket will release GISAT-1 in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit to ensure its positioning in the final geostationary orbit.
The satellite will provide real-time images of the Indian subcontinent,the landmass, oceans, and borders under cloud-free conditions, at frequent intervals.
It will also monitor any possible natural disasters and aid areas such as agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, and oceanography.
The geo-imaging satellite GISAT-1 on board the GSLV-F10 rocket is all set to be launched into the planned orbit on August 12, 2021 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Originally slated to be launched on March 5, 2020, this will be only the second launch of ISRO in 2021 on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. A day before it’s original release, the launch of the 2,268-kg GISAT-1 was delayed due to technical reasons. Following this, the subsequent lockdown to quell Covid-19 led to the launch being temporarily put on hold. Rescheduled for March 28 this year, it got further postponed owing to a minor issue, first to April and then May on account of the second wave of the pandemic.
GISAT, an indigenously designed imaging satellite for geostationary orbit with a high temporal resolution, will enable near real time imaging with fast revisit capability and real time monitoring. ISRO mentioned that the GSLV-F10 will release GISAT 1 in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, enabling its placement in the final geostationary orbit, at about 36,000 km above the earth’s equator, with the help of its on board propulsion system. ISRO has mentioned that GISAT-1 will provide the near real-time observation of the Indian subcontinent under cloud-free conditions at regular intervals. This will help India obtain real-time images of its borders and any natural calamities.
The advantages of positioning this advanced satellite in the geostationary orbit was explained succinctly by experts. An official from the Department of Space termed the satellite as a “game-changer” for India, and mentioned that its high resolution cameras will monitor the Indian landmass and the oceans, with special attention to the country’s borders for security reasons. In case of any natural disaster, episodic or any short-term, subsequent monitoring via the satellite will ensure that precautions are taken well in advance to reduce their impact on both the citizens and the land. Apart from these, it will also contribute towards obtaining the spectral signatures of agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow and glaciers and oceanography.
Earlier this year, the Union Minister of State, Atomic Energy and Space had mentioned that US$123.54 mn has been allocated to ISRO towards the development and launch of satellites for FY21. The increase in the launch of such satellites from India not only propels the nation further into the realm of Space and Technology but also adheres to the nation’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar or a Self-Reliant India.