ISRO successfully launches hyperspectral imaging satellite HysIS
17, Nov 2018
Prelims level : PSLV-C43, HysIS
Mains level : Important missions of ISRO
GS 3: Science & Technology | Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
Why in news?
- The ISRO has successfully launched the PSLV-C43/HysIS mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota late.
- This mission, the sixth one this year that will use a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), will see the launch of HysIS – India’s own earth observation satellite.
- The satellite will be accompanied by 29 other satellites developed by various nations, including 23 from the US.
PSLV-C43 mission:
- The PSLV launcher has a total length of 39.4m and consists of a four-stage rocket, that has alternating solid and liquid stages.
- PSLV-C43 is a core-alone version of the launch vehicle, and the lightest one in operation. The combined weight of the satellites is 641.5kg.
- PSLV-C43 mission’s payload consists of the HysIS satellite, one micro-satellite and 29 nano satellites.
- While the 30 foreign satellites will be launched at an altitude of 504 km from the Earth’s surface, ISRO’s HysIS satellite will be launched at an altitude of 636 km.
- The satellite will be put into a polar synchronous orbit, which sets it in motion along the axis that runs along the Earth’s geographic North and South Pole.
HysIS:
- HysIS stands for Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite.
- The objective of the probe is to provide observations within the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- The imaging tools will help the HysIS satellite monitor atmospheric activity and climate change, while also assisting studies of Earth’s magnetic field.
- These observations will have a host of applications, prime among which relate to agriculture, forestry, water management, and coastal patterns.
- The satellite’s payload also consists of a 730W power backup, and a 64Ah Li-ion battery.
- It will continue to make observations till 2023, when the mission ends.
- After this launch, the next big event for the Indian space organisation will be its awaited mission to the moon – Chandrayaan-2 – in early 2019.