RISAT I

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[PM’s I-Day speech] :
PM has addressed the nation on Independence day. His speech has touched various important issues. Lets see them one at a time. This article throws light on space research of India as referred by the PM.

1. RISAT-I
2. Agni-V
3. Mars Mission of India

1.Risat I:

• Radar Imaging Satellite-I first of its kind in India.
• Launched using PSLV-C19.
• Microwave Remote sensing satellite with a Synthetic Aperture Radar payload.

Advantages and Applications:

• Imaging surface feature during both day and night conditions.
• All weather monitoring.
• Microwave remote sensing helps cloud penetration.
• Applications in paddy monitoring, disaster management during floods, cyclone.

Orbit:

• Polar sun synchronous, solar powered.
• Sun Synchronous satellites are those which follow solar time i.e you can find the satellite over one country at same local time every day, follows the clock of sun essentially to harness the solar power.
• Such satellites are used mainly for remote sensing, spy satellites.

PSLV:

• Polar satellite launch vehicle- normally carries a payload of 1600kg.
• Puts satellites in sun synchronous orbits of 620km above earth’s surface.
• Workhorse of Indian satellite programs- Earned the name following 20 continuous successful missions of its total 21 flights.
• PSLV-XL a variant of PSLV was used to launch Chandrayaan-I.(India only nation to use PSLV for moon missions, normally Geo synchronous launch vehicles(GSLV) are used for such missions).
• Advantage of PSLVs are that they are economic compared to GSLVs, but payload of PSLVs is around 1600kg, while GSLV has a payload capacity of 2500kg.

Next addition to our launch vehicles GSLV mark III with payload capacity of 5000kg, will
boost India to commercial market launches.

2. Agni V:

• Agni V a surface to surface Inter-continental ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India.
• Only 5 other nations of the world have such capability.( US,UK,France,China,Russia)
• Agni series of India has 5 versions starting from 700Km to 5000Km target distance.
• Agni 5 capable of traveling 5000+ Kms also has capability to attack multiple targets( called MIRV system) on ground, making anti-missile shields inadequate.

What is ICBM:

• ICBM stands for Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile a range of missiles traveling a distance more than 3500 Km and attacking specified Targets.
• Ballistic missiles are those following a parabolic trajectory.
• They mainly rely on using the gravitational force during their downward flight.
• Cruise missiles on the other hand are guided throughout their travel path to attack targets effectively and accurately.
• But ballistic missiles compact and less expensive.

For more details see my post on Agni-V

3. Mars Mission:

• India planning a mars mission similar to Curiosity mission of NASA, to be launched by November 2013.
• Official announcement was made in Independence day speech of the PM.
• Already sanction to the tune of Rs.125 crores has been made.
• Technical details of this mission are still not revealed.
• ISRO is in-charge of this mission.