As previously reported by TOI, ISRO has three Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) in its pipeline: two of them – EOS-4 (RISAT-1A) and EOS-6 (OceanSat-3) – will be ISRO’s workhorse. Will be launched using PSLV. Third, EOS-2 (Microsat), will be launched in the first developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
Confirmation is now available that the space agency is preparing to launch a satellite for Bhutan – Bhutansat – in the second PSLV mission that will have Oceansat-3 as its main payload. Apart from these two satellites, the mission will also put into orbit India’s first private earth imaging satellite based in Bengaluru. Pixel,
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said: “This is India’s gift to Bhutan as part of the Space Diplomacy Initiative put in place by the Prime Minister” Narendra Modi, We are helping their personnel build nano satellites which will be used for imaging purposes. It will be launched on PSLV carrying EOS-6. The mission will also launch the Pixxel satellite.
launch progress
While ISRO is expected to achieve the launch of all three EOS missions in the last quarter of 2021, several issues, including disruptions due to weather, could affect the internal deadline set by the agency. “The integration of PSLV had begun at the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota but had to be suspended as some glitches were found with the satellite (Resat-1A). It will resume soon as the problem with the satellite is resolved,” a senior scientist at ISRO Headquarters told TOI.
Therefore, another scientist said, the launch of BhutanSat may happen early next year. However, as per the internal deadline, ISRO wants to launch it by December. In addition, the launch of Risat-1A will also mark the beginning of a new model for ISRO aimed at space reforms undertaken by the Centre.
Earlier, ISRO had a supply-driven model. That is, after making the satellite, ISRO had offered it to the ministries and government agencies. The three satellites the space agency is planning to launch are for the ministries of agriculture, home affairs, earth sciences and environment and forests. Unlike communication satellites where the full capacity may be demanded by a single subscriber, a single Earth observation satellite can cater to multiple customers simultaneously as the data generated by these satellites can be analyzed for various uses.
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