ISRO satellites launched in 2019

List of ISRO satellites launched in 2019

India decided to go to space when Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up by the Government of India in 1962.

Indian Space Research Organisation, formed in 1969, superseded the erstwhile INCOSPAR. Vikram Sarabhai, having identified the role and importance of space technology in a Nation's development, provided ISRO the necessary direction to function as an agent of development.

So here's the list of ISRO satellites which were launched in the year 2019.

Microsat-R

·         Launch date: January 24, 2019

Microsat-R, an imaging satellite was successfully injected into intended orbit of 274 km by PSLV-C44 on January 24, 2019.

·         Launch vehicle: PSLV-C44

GSAT-31

·         Launch date: February 06, 2019

India's telecommunication satellite, GSAT-31 was successfully launched on February 06, 2019 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-247.

GSAT-31 is configured on ISRO's enhanced I-2K Bus, utilising the maximum bus capabilities of this type. This satellite will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.

Weighing about 2536 kg, GSAT-31 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.

The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO's earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series. The satellite provides Indian mainland and island coverage.

The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-31 is about 15 years.

·         Launch vehicle: Ariane-5 VA-247

·         Application: Communication based satellite

EMISAT

·         Launch date: April 01, 2019

EMISAT is a satellite built around ISRO's Mini Satellite-2 bus weighing about 436 kg. The satellite was successfully placed in its intended sun-synchronous polar orbit of 748 km height by PSLV-C45 on April 01, 2019. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement.

·         Launch vehicle: PSLV-C45/EMISAT MISSION

RISAT-2B

·         Launch date: May 22, 2019

RISAT-2B is radar imaging earth observation satellite developed by ISRO.

·         Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C46 Mission

·         Application: Earth observation

Chandrayaan 2

·         Launch date: July 22, 2019

Chandrayaan-2 mission is a highly complex mission, which represents a significant technological leap compared to the previous missions of ISRO. It comprised an Orbiter, Lander and Rover to explore the unexplored South Pole of the Moon.

The mission is designed to expand the lunar scientific knowledge through detailed study of topography, seismography, mineral identification and distribution, surface chemical composition, thermo-physical characteristics of top soil and composition of the tenuous lunar atmosphere, leading to a new understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon.

After the injection of Chandrayaan-2, a series of maneuvers were carried out to raise its orbit and on August 14, 2019, following Trans Lunar Insertion (TLI) maneuver, the spacecraft escaped from orbiting the earth and followed a path that took it to the vicinity of the Moon.

On August 20, 2019, Chandrayaan-2 was successfully inserted into lunar orbit. While orbiting the moon in a 100 km lunar polar orbit, on September 02, 2019, Vikram Lander was separated from the Orbiter in preparation for landing. Subsequently, two de-orbit maneuvers were performed on Vikram Lander so as to change its orbit and begin circling the moon in a 100 km x 35 km orbit. Vikram Lander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed upto an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently communication from lander to the ground stations was lost.

The Orbiter placed in its intended orbit around the Moon will enrich our understanding of the moon's evolution and mapping of the minerals and water molecules in Polar regions, using its eight state-of-the-art scientific instruments.

The Orbiter camera is the highest resolution camera (0.3 m) in any lunar mission so far and will provide high resolution images which will be immensely useful to the global scientific community. The precise launch and mission management has ensured a long life of almost seven years instead of the planned one year.

·         Launch Vehicle: GSLV-Mk III - M1 / Chandrayaan-2 Mission

·         Application: Planetary observation

Cartosat-3

·         Launch date: November 27, 2019

Cartosat-3 satellite is a third generation agile advanced satellite having high resolution imaging capability.

Applications

Cartosat-3 will address the increased user's demands for large scale urban planning, rural resource and infrastructure development, coastal land use and land cover etc.

·         Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C47 / Cartosat-3 Mission

·         Type of satellite: Earth observation

RISAT-2BR1

·         Launch date: December 11, 2019

RISAT-2BR1 is radar imaging earth observation satellite. The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management.

·         Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C48/RISAT-2BR1

·         Application: Earth observation