PSLV-C36 - ISRO to Launch Remote Sensing Satellite today

Chennai: After several successful launches in 2016, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch PSLV-C36 carrying the remote sensing satellite RESOURCESAT-2A from the spaceport of Sriharikota on December 7, the space agency has said.

The 44.4 metre tall PSLV C36 is expected to place the 1,235 kg RESOURCESAT-2A into an 827 km polar sun synchronous orbit in about 18 minutes after lift off.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C36, in its 38th flight, will blast off at 10:24 am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, about 125 km from Chennai, ISRO said on its website.

The mission life of the satellite is five years. RESOURCESAT-2A is a remote sensing satellite developed by ISRO and succeeds RESOURCESAT-1 and RESOURCESAT-2 launched in 2003 and 2011.

It is intended to continue the remote sensing data services to global users and would carry similar payloads as carried by its predecessors RESOURCESAT-1 and RESOURCESAT-2.

RESOURCESAT-2A will carry a high resolution linear imaging self scanner camera, medium resolution LISS-3 camera and an advanced wide field sensor camera that operates in various bands.

It will also carry two solid state recorders with a capacity of 200 GB to store the images taken by the cameras, which can be shared with ground stations.

A trusted workhorse of the space agency, PSLV has launched satellites in various orbits including sun synchronous orbit, low earth orbits, geosynchronous transfer orbit and sub-GTO, registering 36 successful launches so far.

(With Agency inputs)