Isro launches its first hyperspectral imaging satellite, 30 mini satellites

Isro’s workhorse PSLV-C43 lifted off at 0957 hrs (IST) today from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota and successfully launched India’s Hyper spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) and 30 international co-passenger satellites.

During the 112-minute-long mission, PSLV C43 first delivered India's primary satellite into the polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 630 km 17 minutes and 27 seconds after the launch and subsequently delivered the other 30 international co-passengers after descending to 504 km altitude in two batches.

Isro chairman K Sivan and the space agency's scientists broke into cheers as the earth observation satellite was injected into the polar sun-synchronous orbit. The Isro brass is keeping an eye on the mission till the last foreign satellite is delivered.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a four stage launch vehicle with alternating solid and liquid stages. PSLV-C43 is the Core Alone version of PSLV, without the six strap-ons.

HysIS, the primary satellite of PSLV-C43 mission, weighing about 380 kg, 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.

HysIS will be used for a range of applications like agriculture, forestry, soil survey, geology, coastal zones, inland water studies, environmental studies and detection of pollution from industries. Being an earth observation satellite, it will also be used by the military for surveillance purpose.

Hyperspectral or hyspex imaging combines the power of digital imaging and spectroscopy. It collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum and enables distinct identification of objects, material or processes on the Earth by reading the spectrum for each pixel of a scene from space.

HysIS, which can see in 55 spectral or colour bands from 630 km above the ground, carries two payloads. One to capture images in the visible near-infrared (VNIR) range of the light spectrum and another in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) range. The satellite is designed to provide earth observation service for five years till 2023.

The optical imaging detector array chip in the HySIS satellite has been designed by Isro’s Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre and manufactured by its electronic arm, Semi-Conductor Laboratory, Chandigarh.

The co-passengers of HysIS include one Micro and 29 Nano satellites from eight different countries, including from Australia, Colombia, Malaysia and Spain. These satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of Isro.