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Application of Satellites for different purposes
Despite being a developing economy with its attendant problems, India has effectively developed Space Technology and has applied it successfully for its rapid development and today is offering a variety of space Services globally.
Indian Space Program:
During the formative decade of 1960s, space research was conducted by India mainly with the help of sounding rockets. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed in 1969. Space research activities were provided additional fillip with the formation of the Space Commission and the Department of Space by the government of India in 1972. And, ISRO was brought under the Department of Space in the same year.
In the history of the Indian space programme, 70s were the era of Experimentation during which experimental satellite programmes like Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, Rohini and Apple were conducted. The success of those programmes, led to era of operationalisation in 80s during which operational satellite programmes like INSAT and IRS came into being. Today, INSAT and IRS are the major programmes of ISRO.
For launching its spacecraft indigenously, India is having a robust launch vehicle programme, which has matured to the state of offering launch services to the outside world. Antrix, the commercial arm of the Department of Space, is Marketing India’s space services globally. Fruitful co-operation with other space faring nations, international bodies and the developing world is one of the main characteristics of India’s space programme.
The most significant milestone of the Indian Space Programme during the year 2005-2006 was the successful launch of PSLV-C6. On 5 May 2005, the ninth flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C6) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota successfully placed two satellites – the 1560 kg CARTOSTAR-1 and 42 kg HAMSAT – into a predetermined polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Coming after seven launch successes in a row, the success of PSLV-C6 further demonstrated the reliability of PSLV and its capability to place payloads weighing up to 1600 kg satellites into a 600 km high polar SSO.
The successful launch of INSAT-4A, the heaviest and most powerful satellite built by India so far; on 22 December 2005 was the other major event of the year 2005-06. INSAT-4A is capable of providing Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting services.
Besides, the setting up of the second cluster of nine Village Resource Centres (VRCs) was an important ongoing initiative of the Department of Space during the year. VRC concept integrates the capabilities of communications and earth observation satellites to provide a variety of information emanating from space systems and other IT tools to address the changing and critical needs of rural communities.
In October 2008, the first lunar mission launched by ISRO. The spacecraft, Chandrayaan took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and it operated till August 2009. The project was announced by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as part of his independence day speech in 2003. The greatest achievement of this lunar project was the discovery of a large number of water Molecules in moon. ISRO plans to launch its second lunar mission, Chandrayaan 2 by 2018.
In 2014, Mangalyaan, India’s first interplanetary mission was launched, making ISRO the fourth space agency to reach Mars. Mangalyaan gained worldwide repute as being the least expensive Mars mission till date.
Recently India has launched 104 staellites at one go, which is a world record. The previous world record is with the Russian space agency with 37 satellites at one go.
India has been launching heavy satellites on its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) but so far it has only been used for domestic satellites.In recent months though, there have been queries from foreign companies for launches on the GSLV.
Application of satellites for different purposes:
Satellites based on application can be categorized as follows:
Earth Observation satellite->
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. Currently, *thirteen* operational satellites are in Sun-synchronous orbit – RESOURCESAT-1, 2, 2A CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1, and *four* in Geostationary orbit- INSAT-3D, Kalpana & INSAT 3A, INSAT -3DR. 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.
Communication satellite->
The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific region with nine operational communication satellites placed in Geo-stationary orbit. Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B, it initiated a major revolution in India’s communications sector and sustained the same later. GSAT-18 joins the constellation of INSAT System consisting 14 operational satellites, namely – INSAT-3A, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4CR, 3DR and GSAT-6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16.
The INSAT system with more than 200 transponders in the C, Extended C and Ku-bands provides services to telecommunications, television broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, societal applications, weather forecasting, disaster warning and Search and Rescue operations.
Navigation satellite->
Satellite Navigation service is an emerging satellite based system with commercial and strategic applications. ISRO is committed to provide the satellite based Navigation services to meet the emerging demands of the Civil Aviation requirements and to meet the user requirements of the positioning, navigation and timing based on the independent satellite navigation system. To meet the Civil Aviation requirements, ISRO is working jointly with Airport Authority of India (AAI) in establishing the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system. To meet the user requirements of the positioning, navigation and timing services based on the indigenous system, ISRO is establishing a regional satellite navigation system called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
(a) GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN):
This is a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) implemented jointly with Airport Authority of India (AAI). The main objectives of GAGAN are to provide Satellite-based Navigation services with accuracy and Integrity required for civil aviation applications and to provide better Air Traffic Management over Indian Airspace. The system will be interoperable with other international SBAS systems and provide seamless navigation across regional boundaries. The GAGAN Signal-In-Space (SIS) is available through GSAT-8 and GSAT-10.
(b) Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) : NavIC
This is an independent Indian Satellite based positioning system for critical National applications. The main objective is to provide Reliable Position, Navigation and Timing services over India and its neighbourhood, to provide fairly good accuracy to the user. The IRNSS will provide basically two types of services
Standard Positioning Service (SPS)
Restricted Service (RS)
Space Segment consists of seven satellites, three satellites in GEO stationary orbit (GEO) and four satellites in Geo Synchronous Orbit (GSO) orbit with inclination of 29° to the equatorial plane. This constellation of seven satellites was named as “NavIC” (Navigation Indian Constellation) by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi and dedicated to the Nation on the occasion of successful launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh and last satellite of NavIC. All the satellites will be visible at all times in the Indian region. All the seven Satellites of NavIC, namely, IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID,1E, 1F and 1G were successfully launched on July 02, 2013, Apr 04, 2014, Oct 16, 2014, Mar 28, 2015, Jan 20, 2016, Mar 10, 2016 and Apr 28, 2016 respectively and all are functioning satisfactorily from their designated orbital positions.
Ground Segment is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the IRNSS constellation. It provides the monitoring of the constellation status, computation of the orbital and clock parameters and navigation data uploading. The Ground segment comprises of TTC & Uplinking Stations, Spacecraft Control Centre, IRNSS Timing Centre, CDMA Ranging Stations, Navigation Control Centre and Data Communication Links. Space segment is compatible with single frequency receiver for Standard Positioning Service (SPS), dual frequency receiver for both SPS & RS service and a multi mode receiver compatible with other GNSS providers.
Experimental satellite->
ISRO has launched many small satellites mainly for the experimental purposes. This experiment include Remote Sensing, Atmospheric Studies, Payload Development, Orbit Controls, recovery technology etc. Example- INS-1A, INS-1B, YOUTHSAT, APPLE
Small satellite->
The small satellite project is envisaged to provide platform for stand-alone payloads for earth imaging and science missions within a quick turn around time. For making the versatile platform for different kinds of payloads, two kinds of buses have been configured and developed.
Indian Mini Satellite -1 (IMS-1): IMS-1 bus has been developed as a versatile bus of 100 kg class which includes a payload capability of around 30 kg. The bus has been developed using various miniaturization techniques. The first mission of the IMS-1 series was launched successfully on April 28th 2008 as a co-passenger along with Cartosat 2A. Youthsat is second mission in this series and was launched successfully along with Resourcesat 2 on 20th April 2011.
Indian Mini Satellite -2 (IMS-2) Bus: IMS-2 Bus is evolved as a standard bus of 400 kg class which includes a payload capability of around 200kg. IMS-2 development is an important milestone as it is envisaged to be a work horse for different types of remote sensing applications. The first mission of IMS-2 is SARAL. SARAL is a co-operative mission between ISRO and CNES with payloads from CNES and spacecraft bus from ISRO.
Student/Academic satellite->
ISRO has influenced educational institutions by its activities like making satellites for communication, remote sensing and astronomy. The launch of Chandrayaan-1 increased the interest of universities and institutions towards making experimental student satellites.,
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the national space agency of India. It was established in 1969 to “carry out a peaceful, independent and self-reliant space programme”. ISRO is headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka.
ISRO has successfully launched a number of satellites into orbit, including the Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe, the Mangalyaan Mars orbiter, and the Aditya-L1 solar observation satellite. ISRO is also developing a human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
ISRO’s space programmes have made significant contributions to the country’s economy and Society. The satellites launched by ISRO are used for a variety of purposes, including telecommunications, meteorology, and Earth observation. ISRO’s human spaceflight programme is expected to boost the country’s image and prestige in the world.
ISRO is a world-class space agency that has made significant contributions to the field of space exploration. The agency’s achievements are a source of pride for India and its people.
Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (Gaganyaan)
The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (Gaganyaan) is a human spaceflight programme being undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The programme aims to send Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit (LEO) by 2022.
The Gaganyaan programme is a three-phase programme. The first phase, which is currently underway, involves developing the necessary technologies for human spaceflight. The second phase will involve the development of a crew module and a launch vehicle capable of carrying the crew module to LEO. The third phase will involve the actual flight of the crew to LEO.
The Gaganyaan programme is a challenging one, but ISRO is confident that it will be successful. The agency has a long history of success in space exploration, and it is well-positioned to undertake this ambitious programme.
Chandrayaan-1
Chandrayaan-1 was a lunar exploration mission undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission was launched on October 22, 2008, and it successfully entered lunar orbit on November 8, 2008.
Chandrayaan-1 carried a number of scientific instruments, including a radar altimeter, a lunar orbiter camera, and a lunar surface penetrating radar. The mission’s primary objective was to map the lunar surface and to search for water ice.
Chandrayaan-1 was a successful mission, and it achieved all of its primary objectives. The mission’s data has been used to improve our understanding of the Moon’s geology and history.
Mangalyaan
Mangalyaan was a Mars exploration mission undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission was launched on November 5, 2013, and it successfully entered Martian orbit on September 24, 2014.
Mangalyaan carried a number of scientific instruments, including a Mars orbiter camera, a methane sensor, and a magnetometer. The mission’s primary objective was to study the Martian Atmosphere and to search for evidence of water.
Mangalyaan was a successful mission, and it achieved all of its primary objectives. The mission’s data has been used to improve our understanding of Mars’ atmosphere and geology.
Aditya-L1
Aditya-L1 is a solar observation satellite being operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite was launched on January 12, 2018, and it is currently in orbit around the Sun at the Lagrangian point L1.
Aditya-L1’s primary objective is to study the Sun’s corona. The satellite carries a number of scientific instruments, including a coronagraph, a spectrometer, and an imager.
Aditya-L1 is a successful mission, and it is providing valuable data on the Sun’s corona. The mission’s data is being used to improve our understanding of the Sun and its effects on Earth.
Astrosat
Astrosat is an X-ray astronomy satellite being operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite was launched on September 28, 2015, and it is currently in orbit around Earth.
Astrosat’s primary objective is to study X-ray sources in the universe. The satellite carries a number of scientific instruments, including an X-ray Telescope, a spectrometer, and an imager.
Astrosat is a successful mission, and it is providing valuable data on X-ray sources in the universe. The mission’s data is being used to improve our understanding of black holes, neutron stars, and other exotic objects.
GSAT
GSAT is a series of geostationary communication satellites being operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation
What is space technology?
Space technology is the application of science and engineering to the development and use of spacecraft and other equipment and systems for the exploration and use of space.
What are the different types of space technology?
There are many different types of space technology, including:
- Spacecraft: Vehicles that are designed to travel through space.
- Rockets: Vehicles that are used to launch spacecraft into space.
- Satellites: Objects that are placed in orbit around Earth or another planet.
- Space probes: Vehicles that are sent to explore other planets and moons.
- Space telescopes: Telescopes that are used to observe objects in space.
- Space stations: Platforms that are used to conduct research and experiments in space.
What are some of the benefits of space technology?
Space technology has many benefits, including:
- Improved communication: Satellites are used to provide communication services around the world.
- Weather forecasting: Satellites are used to monitor weather patterns and provide forecasts.
- Navigation: Satellites are used to provide navigation services, such as GPS.
- Earth observation: Satellites are used to monitor the Earth’s environment and resources.
- Scientific research: Space technology is used to conduct research on a variety of topics, such as the origin of the universe and the nature of black holes.
What are some of the challenges of space technology?
Space technology is a complex and challenging field, and there are many challenges that need to be addressed, including:
- The high cost of space exploration: It is very expensive to develop and launch spacecraft.
- The dangers of space travel: Space is a hostile environment, and there are many risks associated with space travel, such as radiation exposure and the possibility of accidents.
- The lack of resources: There are many resources that are needed for space exploration, such as water and fuel, and these resources are not always available in space.
- The unknown: There is still much that we do not know about space, and this can make space exploration difficult and dangerous.
What is the future of space technology?
The future of space technology is very promising. There are many exciting new developments in space technology, such as:
- The development of reusable rockets: Reusable rockets are much cheaper to launch than traditional rockets, and this could make space exploration more affordable.
- The development of new propulsion systems: New propulsion systems, such as ion engines, could make space travel faster and more efficient.
- The development of new materials: New materials, such as carbon nanotubes, could make spacecraft lighter and stronger.
- The development of new sensors: New sensors, such as 3D cameras, could provide more detailed information about the environment in space.
Space technology is a rapidly evolving field, and there are many exciting new developments on the horizon. The future of space exploration is very bright, and space technology will play a major role in this exploration.
Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of space technology and Indian space programs:
-
Which of the following is not a type of space technology?
(A) Satellites
(B) Rockets
(C) Telescopes
(D) Computers -
The first Indian satellite was named:
(A) Aryabhata
(B) Bhaskara
(C) Chandrayaan
(D) Mangalyaan -
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was founded in:
(A) 1969
(B) 1972
(C) 1975
(D) 1980 -
The first Indian astronaut to go into space was:
(A) Rakesh Sharma
(B) Sunita Williams
(C) Kalpana Chawla
(D) Indira Gandhi -
The Indian space program has achieved many successes, including:
(A) launching satellites into orbit
(B) sending probes to the Moon and Mars
(C) developing indigenous launch vehicles
(D) all of the above -
The Indian space program is a major contributor to the country’s economy, providing jobs and generating revenue.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Indian space program is a major source of national pride, and has helped to improve India’s image in the world.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Indian space program is a major driver of scientific and technological innovation in India.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Indian space program is a major contributor to the country’s security, by providing early warning systems and communication capabilities.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Indian space program is a major contributor to the country’s disaster management efforts, by providing satellite imagery and communication capabilities.
(A) True
(B) False