Context
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its first mission of 2022 is slated on February 14, 2022.
Key-points
- The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C52) is scheduled to launch on February 14, from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- It will orbit an earth observation satellite (EOS-04).
- The satellite aims to improve understanding of ionosphere dynamics as well as the sun's coronal heating process. Its operational lifetime has been set for a year.
About PSLV-C52
- PSLV-C52 has a weight of 1710 kg. It will orbit around EOS-04 into a sun synchronous polar orbit of 529 km.
- This mission will carry two small satellites as co-passengers, namely,
- Student satellite (INSPIREsat-1) – This satellite has been developed by Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in collaboration with Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at University of Colorado, Boulder.
- Technology demonstrator satellite (INS-2TD)– This satellite has been developed by ISRO. It is the precursor to India-Bhutan Joint Satellite (INS-2B).
About EOS-04 Satellite
- The EOS-04 satellite, also known as RISAT1, is a Radar Imaging Satellite.
- It has been designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions.
- The images will be used for applications such as agriculture, soil moisture and hydrology, forestry & plantations and flood mapping.
- It will collect observation data in C-Band, completing the observations done by Cartosat, Resourcesat, and RISAt-2B series.
