Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 16th 07, 09:48 PM
Indian Space Research Organisation
Bangalore, India
January 12, 2007
CARTOSAT-2 Camera Tested
The Panchromatic camera (PAN) on board ISRO's latest remote sensing
satellite, CARTOSAT-2, was switched on at 10:05 am IST today ([0435 UTC]
January 12, 2007) through a series of commands issued from the Spacecraft
Control Centre of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at
Bangalore. Analysis of the first imagery received at National Remote Sensing
Agency's Data Reception Station at Shadnagar, near Hyderabad, confirms
excellent performance of the camera. The first imagery covered a length of
about 240 km from Paonta Sahib in Shivalik region to Delhi. Another set of
imagery of about 50 km length covered Radha Nagari to Sagoan in Goa before
the satellite passed over the Arabian Sea.
It may be recalled that the 680 kg CARTOSAT-2, the twelfth in the Indian
Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite series, along with Space capsule Recovery
Experiment (SRE-1), SRE-1Indonesia's LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina's
PEHUENSAT-1, were launched into the intended 639 km high polar orbit by
PSLV-C7 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on January
10, 2007. Soon after its separation from the Dual Launch Adopter (DLA), the
two solar arrays of CARTOSAT-2 were automatically deployed. The satellite is
being continuously monitored and controlled from the Spacecraft Control
Centre of ISTRAC at Bangalore with the help of its network of stations at
Bangalore, Lucknow, Mauritius, Bearslake in Russia and Biak in Indonesia.
The Ground station at Svalbard in Sweden is also supporting the mission in
its initial phase. All systems in the satellite are functioning normally.
CARTOSAT-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing
scene-specific spot imagery. The panchromatic camera (PAN) on board the
satellite can provide imagery with a spatial resolution of better than one
metre and a swath of 9.6 km. The satellite can be steered up to 45 deg along
as well as across the track. The data from the satellite will be used for
detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at cadastral level,
urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as
applications in Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information
System (GIS).
Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1): Space capsule Recovery Experiment
(SRE-1) launched by PSLV-C7 along with CARTOSAT-2 is functioning normally
and the two microgravity experiments on board related to metallurgy and
Biomimetic synthesis are expected to start soon.
LAPAN-TUBSAT is also functioning satisfactorily according to the Indonesian
Space agency, LAPAN. Argentina's nano satellite, PEHUENSAT-1, is expected to
start sending signals soon once its battery is charged by its solar panel.
Bangalore, India
January 12, 2007
CARTOSAT-2 Camera Tested
The Panchromatic camera (PAN) on board ISRO's latest remote sensing
satellite, CARTOSAT-2, was switched on at 10:05 am IST today ([0435 UTC]
January 12, 2007) through a series of commands issued from the Spacecraft
Control Centre of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at
Bangalore. Analysis of the first imagery received at National Remote Sensing
Agency's Data Reception Station at Shadnagar, near Hyderabad, confirms
excellent performance of the camera. The first imagery covered a length of
about 240 km from Paonta Sahib in Shivalik region to Delhi. Another set of
imagery of about 50 km length covered Radha Nagari to Sagoan in Goa before
the satellite passed over the Arabian Sea.
It may be recalled that the 680 kg CARTOSAT-2, the twelfth in the Indian
Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite series, along with Space capsule Recovery
Experiment (SRE-1), SRE-1Indonesia's LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina's
PEHUENSAT-1, were launched into the intended 639 km high polar orbit by
PSLV-C7 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on January
10, 2007. Soon after its separation from the Dual Launch Adopter (DLA), the
two solar arrays of CARTOSAT-2 were automatically deployed. The satellite is
being continuously monitored and controlled from the Spacecraft Control
Centre of ISTRAC at Bangalore with the help of its network of stations at
Bangalore, Lucknow, Mauritius, Bearslake in Russia and Biak in Indonesia.
The Ground station at Svalbard in Sweden is also supporting the mission in
its initial phase. All systems in the satellite are functioning normally.
CARTOSAT-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing
scene-specific spot imagery. The panchromatic camera (PAN) on board the
satellite can provide imagery with a spatial resolution of better than one
metre and a swath of 9.6 km. The satellite can be steered up to 45 deg along
as well as across the track. The data from the satellite will be used for
detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at cadastral level,
urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as
applications in Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information
System (GIS).
Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1): Space capsule Recovery Experiment
(SRE-1) launched by PSLV-C7 along with CARTOSAT-2 is functioning normally
and the two microgravity experiments on board related to metallurgy and
Biomimetic synthesis are expected to start soon.
LAPAN-TUBSAT is also functioning satisfactorily according to the Indonesian
Space agency, LAPAN. Argentina's nano satellite, PEHUENSAT-1, is expected to
start sending signals soon once its battery is charged by its solar panel.