ISRO Launches Resourcesat-2A

First Posted: Dec 08, 2016 05:51 AM EST

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched its third remote sensing satellite.

The Hindu reported that ISRO launched its Resourcesat-2A satellite on the PSLV-C36 rocket from Sriharikota, India, on Wednesday morning. ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said that it was a perfect launch since it was already 824 km away from Earth 18 minutes after its take off.

"We have put one more operational [Earth observation] satellite in orbit," Kumar told the website at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The spacecraft, which weighs about 1,200 kilograms, is currently orbiting from pole to pole, synchronized to the Sun. It is inclined by 98.7 degrees to the equator and will then be adjusted by the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru.

The Resourcesat-2A followed two previous ISRO spacecraft launches -- Resourcesat-1 in October 2003 and Resourcesat-2 in April 2011 -- that will observe Earth from space. Set to be paired with Resourcesat-2, satellite director S.K. Nagesh said that the satellite is expected to send more precise data and to capture better quality images by Dec. 15.

According to ISRO, three cameras of different resolutions mounted in the satellite will soon collect micro and macro information on different bodies of water and lands. This probe will focus on forests, farms, crop area and production estimation, soil mapping, mineral deposits, rural and urban spreads, drought, as well as disaster management guidelines.

An ISRO official added that the AWiFS (Advanced Wide Field Sensor) could capture images with its 56-meter resolution at the state level. Meanwhile, the LISS-3 (Linear Imaging Self-scanning Sensor) of 23.5-meter resolution will be used to capture images at the district level and LISS-4 (5.6 metres) will be used for images at taluk level.

"Successful launch of PSLV-C36/RESOURCESAT-2A is an accomplishment we all are very proud of," said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Congratulations ISRO on the remarkable feat."