New earth observation satellite to be launched by ISRO
- ISRO plans to place into orbit an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS - 04) onboard the PSLV C-52
- The mission will also carry two small satellites as co-passengers, a student satellite, INSPIREsat-1, from the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a technology demonstrator satellite, INS-2TD from ISRO.
About Earth Observation Satellite (EOS - 04)
- It is a radar-imaging satellite
- It is designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions
- Its applications will be in fields of agriculture, forestry & plantations, soil moisture and hydrology, and flood mapping.
- It wil be placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 529 kilometers above the planet.
Previous EOS launched by ISRO
- EOS-01: It was launched into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota by PSLV-C49/EOS-01 launch vehicle.
- It is an earth observation satellite
- Application: Disaster Management System Earth Observation
- Orbit Type: LEO
- EOS-03: It is a Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) that would have worked together with RISAT-2B and RISAT-2BR1.
- Its launch was failed because of an anomaly in the rocket’s cryogenic upper stage.
- Other EOS in Sun-synchronous orbit are RESOURCESAT-1, 2, 2A CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1
- Applications: agriculture, water resources, urban planning, rural development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources and disaster management.
Significance of EOS
- For better management and surveillance of border areas
- To overcome limitations of drones and UAVs as they can be shot down by enemies
- For Surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region
- For post-attack assessment of the region
Sun-synchronous polar orbit
- It is is a particular kind of polar orbit
- It allows a satellite to pass over a section of the Earth at the same time of day.
- Satellites in this orbit travel over the polar regions and are synchronous with the Sun.
- Range: satellites orbit at an altitude between 700 to 800 km.
- These orbits are used for satellites that need a constant amount of sunlight.
- Uses: Satellites which take pictures of the Earth ,satellites that measure longwave radiation , military and remote sensing purposes.
About PSLV
- It is the third generation launch vehicle of India.
- It is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and third stages using solid rocket motors and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
- It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
- Capacity: average carrying capacity is 1200 KG.
Types of PSLV
- PSLV Core alone: This type of launching vehicle has the carrying capacity of 1000 KG.
- It is placed in Low earth orbit.
- PSLV Standard: They have the carrying capacity of 1000KG in the Low earth orbit and 1150KG in the Geostationary transfer orbit.
- PSLV Extra large: They have the carrying capacity of 1750KG in the low earth orbit and 1300KG in the Geostationary transfer orbit.