ISRO confirms launching of powerful Earth Observation Satellite RISAT-1 on PSLV-C52 on Valentine's Day

Source : India Today

Earth Observation Satellite-04 that will launch onboard PSLV-C52. (Photo: ISRO)

The Indian Space & Research Organisation (Isro) will conduct the first launch of 2022 on Valentine’s Day as it lifts off the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04). The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C52 will launch at 05:59 am on February 14 from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The launcher will deploy the 1710-kilogram satellite into the sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 529 kilometers above the planet.

Apart from EOS-04, also dubbed RISAT1, the PSLV will carry two other small satellites. These include one student satellite dubbed INSPIREsat-1 developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology in association with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado and a technology demonstrator satellite named INS-2TD from Isro. The INS-2TD is a precursor to the India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).

Isro said that EOS-04 is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology, and Flood mapping. The countdown for the mission will begin after approval for launch by the Launch Authorization Board.

Earth Observation Satellite-04 that will launch onboard PSLV-C52. (Photo: Isro)India Today had earlier reported that Isro was planning to launch the satellite onboard its workhorse PSLV-C52 to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), likely between February 14-17. The first launch of 2022 comes months after the fatal loss of the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-03) that could not be deployed due to a “technical anomaly” in August last year.

Isro will look to find its lost pace for its delayed missions due to Covid-19 pandemic and successive lockdowns, which pushed back several missions, like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-3, and Aditya L1 missions. Isro chief S Somnath had recently said that the Department of Space has planned 19 missions to be launched in 2022. Isro will liftoff 08 launch vehicle missions, 07 spacecraft missions, and 04 technology demonstrator missions.

Meanwhile, the space agency is also gearing up for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 in August this year. The third moon mission comes two years after the Chandrayaan-2 crash-landed on the far side of the Moon. While the lander and the rover crashed, the orbiter is still hovering above the lunar surface and Isro plans to use it with Chandrayaan-3 as well.