India
ISRO Launches Earth Imaging Satellite HysIS and 30 Foreign Satellites
Picture Credit: Twitter@isro
The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, said ISRO.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), an advanced satellite dedicated to earth observation, today. Along with HysIS, the Indian space agency also launched 30 foreign satellites into their designated orbits with the help of its most trustworthy PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket.
According to information updated on the official website of ISRO, PSLV-C43 lifted off at 09.57am on Nov. 29 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Center, SHAR, Sriharikota.
HysIS was placed in 636 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) while 30 foreign satellites were placed in 504 km polar SSO. Mission life of HysIS is five years.
According to a Times of India report, HysIS and 30 other satellites were launched in PSLV’s 45th flight, which lasted for 112 minutes.
ISRO tweeted the successful launch on its official handle.
Update #13#ISROMissions#PSLVC43
Finally home! #PSLVC43 successfully launches #HysIS and 30 foreign satellites into their designated orbits.@PMOIndia
— ISRO (@isro) November 29, 2018
NDTV quoted ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan as saying, “HysIS is a very rare satellite with a super-sharp eye, and very few countries have indigenously mastered this technology. Many countries are trying to send such hyper-spectral cameras into space but interpreting its results is not easy.”
Terming HysIS, as the primary satellite of PSLV-C43 mission, ISRO said that it weighs around 380 kg. “HysIS is an earth observation satellite configured around ISRO’s Mini Satellite-2 (IMS-2) bus. The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum,” ISRO said on its website.
The co-passengers of HysIS include 1 Micro and 29 Nanosatellites from eight different countries. 23 satellites are from the U.S. while other seven are from Australia, Canada, Columbia, Finland, Malaysia, Netherlands, and Spain. These satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO.