The launch of the country’s most advanced earth observation satellite Gisat-1, which will allow India to better monitor the subcontinent, including its borders with Pakistan and China, is slated for May 15. The launch of the 2,268-kg satellite in the first week of this month was aborted due to a technical glitch.
Isro chairman K Sivan told TOI: “The technical glitch related to a voltage fluctuation issue in the satellite which is being fixed. Thereafter, the satellite will be assembled in the launch vehicle and tested again. All these things will take time and the launch is likely to happen in the first half of next month. The delay in the launch of Gisat-1 by GSLV-F10 and the Covid situation will postpone other launches, including the first test-flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV or mini PSLV), this year.”
Equipped with high resolution cameras, Gisat-1 will allow the country to monitor the Indian landmass and oceans, particularly its borders, continuously as it will provide near real-time imaging of the large area region of interest at frequent intervals.
It will also help in quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic and any short-term events. The geo-satellite will also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud properties, snow & glaciers and oceanography.