Indian Remote Sensing Satellites

Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS System)

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS) is a program of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that develops and operates India’s remote sensing satellite fleet. The IRS program was begun in 1988, and it now consists of a constellation of over a dozen satellites used

for a range of purposes, including mapping, surveying and environmental monitoring.

The IRS satellites are outfitted with a variety of specialized instruments, including cameras, sensors and radar, which are designed to collect and send precise data on the Earth and its surroundings. This information is utilized for a wide range of applications, including mapping and surveying,

environmental monitoring and scientific study.

One of the IRS program’s primary goals is to offer high- quality remote sensing data and services to customers in India and around the world. To do this, the IRS program has launched a number of projects and collaborations, including the National Natural Resources Management System

(NNRMS), which offers remote sensing data and services to a variety of government departments and private individuals.

Overall, the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System is an essential initiative that supports India’s space research and development endeavours. It offers useful information and services to people in India and throughout the world, and it is a critical component of the country’s efforts to understand and protect the Earth and its environment.

IRS Missions

Over the years, the IRS program has undertaken a number of missions to collect and send precise information about the Earth and its environment. The IRS program has launched several significant missions, including:

IRS-1A: The IRS-1A satellite, launched in 1988, was the first in the constellation. It was outfitted with a variety of sensors, including a multispectral camera and a radar imaging sensor, which were used to gather comprehensive data on the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

IRS-1B: The IRS-1B satellite, launched in 1991, was the second in the IRS constellation. It received upgraded sensors, including a higher-resolution multispectral camera and a new radar imaging sensor.

IRS-1C: The IRS-1C satellite, launched in 1995, was the third in the IRS constellation. It was outfitted with a variety of modern sensors including a new multispectral camera, a radar imaging sensor, and a high-resolution panchromatic camera.

IRS-1D, launched in 1997, was the fourth satellite in the IRS system. It was outfitted with a variety of modern sensors, including a new multispectral camera, a radar imaging sensor and a high-resolution panchromatic camera.

The IRS-P6 (Resourcesat-2) satellite, launched in 2011, was the sixth in the IRS constellation. It was outfitted with a variety of advanced sensors, including a high- resolution multispectral camera, a radar imaging sensor

and a high-resolution panchromatic camera.

IRS-P7 (Cartosat-2A), launched in 2008, was the sixth satellite in the IRS system. It was outfitted with a high- resolution panchromatic camera that was intended to capture detailed photos of the Earth’s surface for a number of purposes such as mapping, surveying and environmental monitoring.

• The IRS-P8 (Resourcesat-2A) satellite, launched in 2016, is the seventh in the IRS constellation. It was outfitted with a variety of advanced sensors, including a high-resolution multispectral camera, a radar imaging sensor and a high- resolution panchromatic camera.

• The IRS-P9 (Cartosat-2B) satellite, launched in 2017, was the eighth mission in the series.

Applications Of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites

The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites’ valuable data have tremendously benefited a wide range of applications. These applications span multiple industries and contribute to India’s environmental management and socioeconomic growth. IRS satellites are primarily used for the following purposes

• IRS satellites help manage agricultural efficiently. They provide information for better water resource management, forecasting pest and disease outbreaks, calculating yields, and monitoring crops.

• IRS data is used for forest management, including mapping and tracking deforestation. It aids in fire detection, species identification, and evaluation of forest cover.

• IRS satellites assist with water resource management, including river basin planning, reservoir maintenance, and flood prediction. They also support assessing the availability and quality of water.

• Urban planners use IRS data to track land usage, construct infrastructure, and plan cities. This is critical for efficient resource allocation and long-term urban growth.

• IRS data is used in rural development initiatives such as infrastructure planning, watershed management, and soil health assessments.

• Cartography and Mapping: Topographic surveys, map production, and cartography rely on high-resolution imagery from satellites such as Cartosat.

• IRS data can help with infrastructure development, including transportation planning, energy infrastructure, and industrial site selection.

• IRS satellites, outfitted with atmospheric sensors, provide weather forecasting and climate research data. They support climate change modeling as well as monitoring.

• IRS satellites aid in security and defense by identifying targets, monitoring borders, and providing situational awareness.

• Remote sensing data can be used to plan healthcare activities and track the spread of vector-borne illnesses such as malaria.

Indian Satellite (INSAT)

The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific, with nine active communication satellites in geostationary orbit.

Established in 1983 with the commissioning of INSAT-1B, it sparked a dramatic transformation in India’s communications sector and continued it subsequently.

The INSAT system, which has over 200 transponders in the C, Extended C, and Ku bands, serves telecommunications, television transmission, satellite newsgathering, societal

applications, weather forecasting, catastrophe warning, and search and rescue activities.

ExceedSat-1 (India’s 1st Private Satellite)

Exseed Space has become India’s first privately funded business to successfully launch a satellite into space.

Space X launched ExseedSAT-1 into space, together with 63 other satellites from 17 countries.

Regarding ExseedSAT 1 and its applications-

• The small communication satellite, weighing only one kilogram and measuring double the size of a Rubik’s cube (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm), is composed of aluminum alloy.

• The satellite aims to serve the amateur radio community.

• The satellite, which has a five-year lifespan, will allow users to receive signals on the 145.9 Mhz frequency using a television tuner.

• The satellite would provide a significant boost to commercial radio operators, allowing them to coordinate messages and assist the country in times of calamity.

Remote Sensing Satellites by ISRO

Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many operational remote sensing satellites. Today, India has one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation. Varieties of instruments have been flown onboard these satellites to provide necessary data in a diversified spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions to cater to different user requirements in the country and for global usage. The data from these satellites are used for several applications covering agriculture, water resources, urban planning, rural development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources and disaster management. These satellites are EOS (Earth Observation Satellites), CARTOSAT (for mapping applications in various arenas), RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite), INSAT (Indian National Satellite- used for various purposes to provide low-cost solutions), RESOURCESAT (for resource mapping and exploration in various departments, for ex: mineral and oil) or IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellites).

• Survey and management of Natural resources (Forest, Agri, wetlands)

Mineral prospecting: Locating minerals via Satellite (Resource SAT- 1, 2A, 2B)

Cartography (Contour maps): (CARTOSAT) (GIS: geographical info system)

Bhuvan System: Collaboration between Map My India and ISRO: Indigenous Geo-Spatial Portal

Oceanography: mapping and study of geography. Ex: OCEANSAT (4-5)

• SCATSAT-1 has replaced OCEANSAT 2-A

• SARAL: Satellite for ARGUS and ALTIGA (ISRO) and CNES (France)

•
Environment: Pollution management

• NISAR: observation of changes our earth (Land S band.)

• NISAR: Nasa ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar: A Collaboration between India and NASA for a dual frequency satellite.

• Disaster Management: Hazard Mapping of disaster- prone areas

• RISAT is a Radar Imaging Earth Observation Satellite. The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management.