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The deliberate liftoff Thursday of an Indian Geosynchronous Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile with a geostationary Earth-imaging satellite tv for pc has been postponed because of technical causes, India’s area company introduced.
The Indian House Analysis Group didn’t determine the explanation for the launch postponement. ISRO stated Wednesday that a “revised launch date will likely be knowledgeable in the end.”
The GSLV Mk.2 launcher was scheduled for liftoff at 1213 GMT (7:13 a.m. EST) Thursday from the Satish Dhawan House Middle on India’s east coast.
When it takes off, the 169-foot-tall (51.7-meter) GSLV Mk.2 launcher will head towards the southeast from the area middle over the Bay of Bengal. Lower than 20 minutes later, the GSLV’s third stage will deploy India’s Geo Imaging Satellite tv for pc 1, or GISAT 1, into an elliptical geostationary switch orbit.
The GSLV mission, designed GSLV-F10, will likely be India’s first area launch of the 12 months. The launch automobile set to launch with GISAT 1 options an enlarged 13.1-foot (Four-meter) diameter composite nostril shroud, giving the GSLV Mk.2 extra quantity for payloads.
The 5,000-pound (2,268-kilogram) GISAT 1 spacecraft will use its on-board propulsion system to achieve a round geostationary orbit greater than 22,000 miles (almost 36,000 kilometers) over the equator. Satellites in geostationary orbit fly round Earth on the identical price because the planet’s rotation, giving spacecraft a continuing view of the identical a part of Earth.
Most Earth statement satellites orbit at a lot decrease altitudes — usually just a few hundred miles above Earth — however have slim protection swaths. GISAT 1 will likely be positioned in geostationary orbit at 85.5 levels east longitude, offering views of the Indian subcontinent and neighboring ocean areas 24 hours per day.
Climate monitoring satellites additionally fly in geostationary orbit, however GISAT 1 carries a strong Earth-viewing telescope to supply sharper imagery than a typical meteorological observatory.
Three colour and hyperspectral sensors will take seen, near-infrared and shortwave infrared pictures. The hyperspectral detectors are designed to register particulars about landscapes and oceans, comparable to vegetation sort, plant well being, water high quality and different environmental components.
“Imagery from GISAT 1 will likely be utilized for a bunch of functions together with crop monitoring at regional and nationwide ranges, drought development and evaluation, ocean and coastal zone administration, fog detection and warning, catastrophe administration, mud monitoring, and plenty of extra,” ISRO stated.
GISAT 1 will use its telescope to scan in east-west and north-south motions, amassing pictures with a floor decision as sharp as about 137 toes (42 meters).
The GISAT 1 spacecraft is designed for a lifetime of not less than seven years.
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