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| ResourceSat | |
|---|---|
| Name | ResourceSat |
| Mission type | Earth observation |
| Operator | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| Manufacturer | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| Launch mass | 1,410 kg |
| Power | 1,200 watts |
| Orbit type | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Status | Active/Retired (varies by satellite) |
ResourceSat
ResourceSat is a series of Indian remote sensing spacecraft developed to provide continuity to the Earth observation capabilities established by earlier Indian Remote Sensing satellites and to support applications in agriculture, forestry, water resources, and disaster management. Built and operated by Indian Space Research Organisation, the ResourceSat family emphasizes high-resolution multispectral and hyperspectral imaging from Sun-synchronous orbit for resource monitoring, planning, and scientific research. ResourceSat flights form part of broader international collaborations and data-sharing arrangements involving agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, and regional organizations.
ResourceSat satellites follow the lineage of the IRS program initiated in the 1980s and complement contemporary platforms like Cartosat and RISAT. Each spacecraft carries multispectral imaging sensors to produce calibrated data products used by institutions including the National Remote Sensing Centre, Central Water Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization, and academic centers such as the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Technology. ResourceSat capabilities support national initiatives parallel to programs like Sentinel programme and Landsat. The series enhances capacity for mapping, monitoring, and modeling across sectors led by ministries and state agencies.
The ResourceSat design stems from developmental work at Space Applications Centre and systems engineering at U R Rao Satellite Centre. Development incorporated lessons from early missions such as IRS-1C and IRS-P6 and benefited from collaborations with international firms and research labs including the CNES and university partners. Platform architecture integrates stabilized bus components, deployable solar arrays, and reaction wheel assemblies similar to those used on PSLV-launched Indian satellites. Avionics and payload electronics were qualified through test campaigns at facilities like Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and environmental test chambers used for missions including Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan.
ResourceSat payloads typically include an Advanced Wide Field Sensor comparable in purpose to instruments on Landsat and Sentinel-2, a Linear Imaging Self Scanner that provides medium-resolution swathes, and a high-resolution panchromatic imager akin to sensors on Cartosat-2. Sensors provide radiometric calibration traceable to standards used by NOAA and US Geological Survey. Imaging modes enable multispectral, panchromatic, and fused pan-sharpened products supporting precision mapping, thematic classification, and change detection workflows employed by research centers like Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and international partners such as CNES and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
ResourceSat satellites have been launched aboard vehicles including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre into Sun-synchronous orbits to ensure consistent illumination and revisit cycles. Launch campaigns involved range safety coordination with agencies like Indian Coast Guard and ground support from tracking stations part of networks similar to International Laser Ranging Service sites. Each mission was scheduled to provide continuity for operational users in ministries such as Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and agencies like the Survey of India. The program timeline parallels other national missions including IRNSS and high-profile projects like Chandrayaan-1.
ResourceSat delivers calibrated Level-1 and higher-order products used in crop acreage estimation projects coordinated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and disaster response systems managed by National Disaster Management Authority. Products feed into modeling systems at institutions such as Indian Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission, and research programs at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. Applications span land use/land cover mapping, irrigation planning, forest biomass assessments for agencies like the Forest Survey of India, and coastal monitoring relevant to entities such as the Ministry of Earth Sciences and regional bodies like Bay of Bengal Initiative partners.
The ResourceSat operational ground segment comprises mission control at ISRO TTC and data processing centers including the National Remote Sensing Centre archive and dissemination systems interoperable with platforms like Global Earth Observation System of Systems. Ground stations coordinate with international facilities such as EUMETSAT nodes and university networks for calibration/validation campaigns. User services provide near-real-time delivery to agencies including the Indian Space Research Organisation-affiliated user community and downstream companies in geospatial sectors.
ResourceSat contributed to strengthening national self-reliance in remote sensing akin to milestones achieved by IRS-1A and enhanced India’s role in Earth observation diplomacy alongside Committee on Earth Observation Satellites collaborations. The legacy includes datasets underpinning scientific publications from institutes such as Indian Statistical Institute and policy frameworks affecting ministries and state departments. Techniques and operational practices developed for ResourceSat informed subsequent missions like Cartosat-3 and ongoing partnerships with international programs such as Group on Earth Observations initiatives.
Category:Indian satellites Category:Earth observation satellites