The Indian space agency is all set to romance with the space missions set for this year! Why do we say this? Because, the first launch is scheduled for February 14 at 5:59 am from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. With this, the first launch of 2022 is nearing where the Indian Space Research Organisation will lift off the workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 54th mission to space.
The PSLV is a third-generation launch vehicle designed indigenously that can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
*What is in the store?:*
The Indian space agency is all set for the first launch of the year with the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04). Also dubbed as RISAT1, the launcher will deploy the 1,710-kilogram satellite into the sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 529 kilometres above our planet. Apart from EOS-04, the PSLV will also carry two other small satellites. The two rideshare payloads include a student satellite that is dubbed as INSPIREsat-1. It is developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology in collaboration with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado. Another satellite among two is the technology demonstrator satellite named INS-2TD from ISRO that will lay the foundation for a future India-Bhutan Joint Satellite project.
*EOS-04 to lift off on Feb 14:*
In total, ISRO has three satellites to be launched on the desired date and time. Among these is Earth Observation Satellite-04, also dubbed as Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT). This satellite has been designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions and situations to be applicable for sectors like agriculture, forestry and plantations, flood mapping, soil moisture & hydrology. It is pertinent to mention that the spacecraft is aimed to collect observation data in C-Band completing the observations done by Resourcesat, Cartosat and RISAT-2B series. Also, the satellite has an operating life of a decade.
*INSAT-2TD:*
Another satellite hitching a ride onboard PSLV-C52 include INSAT-2TD. This is a technology demonstrator satellite, a precursor to the India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B). What does this satellite have? It carries a thermal imaging camera that will aid in the assessment of land, water surface temperatures, delineation of vegetation and thermal inertia. The satellite which weighs 17.5 kgs has an operating life of just six months.
*INSPIREsat-1:*
The final payload is a student satellite also known as INSPIREsat-1 which weighs 8.1 kgs and has been developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology in collaboration with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado. The satellite is designed to improve our understanding of ionosphere dynamics – the layer of the earth’s atmosphere between about 80 & 1,000 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. It will also create a better understanding of the sun’s coronal heating process. The satellite’s operational lifetime is set for a year.
The countdown process of 25 hours and 30 minutes will commence at 4:29 am on 13th February, according to ISRO.
