 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
India's Ocean Satellite Relays Images, Data
Bangalore, India (PTI) Oct 14, 2009 India's latest remote sensing satellite Oceansat-2 has begun beaming "good quality" images of the earth and relaying data on sea surface wind speed and direction, the space agency said on Monday. The 960 kg spacecraft was launched on board the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C14) from spaceport Sriharikota, about 90 km north-east of Chennai on September 23, with three scientific instruments (payloads). The sensors are Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM), the Scatterometer and the Radio Occultation Sounder for atmospheric studies. "The sensors have been turned on and are providing good quality data, including images," the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here. The 76 kg OCM, multi-spectral imaging radiometer, provides information on chlorophyll concentration, and helps locate potential fishery zones, in sea-state forecasting, coastal zone studies, weather forecasting and climate studies, with a 360-metre spatial resolution and a swathe of 1,420km. The Ku-band pencil beam Scatterometer, an active microwave sensor with a ground resolution of 50km x 50km, facilitates retrieval of sea-surface wind speed and direction, and monitoring polar sea-ice. The radio occultation sounder, developed by the Italian space agency, measures the parameters pertaining to lower atmosphere and ionosphere. "The data from the sensors will also facilitate monitoring of turbidity and suspended sediments, sea-state and sea-surface winds, and meteorological/climatological studies," the statement noted. The Rs.1.3-billion remote sensing satellite collects data over the entire globe once in two days while revolving in the sun-synchronous orbit about 720 km above the earth. Designed to last five years, the cuboid shaped Oceansat-2 will also study the oceans' interactions with the atmosphere. The rocket also deployed six European nano satellites into the polar orbit along with Oceansat-2. Oceansat-2's health is monitored from ISRO's telemetry, tracking and command networks (Istrac) spacecraft control in Bangalore, Lucknow, Mauritius, Biak in Indonesia and Svalbard and Tromso in Norway. The first 1,050 kg Oceansat-1, launched May 26, 1999, is in operation, positioned in the same polar sun-synchronous orbit.
Source: Press Trust of India Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application
Earth From Space: Typhoon MelorParis, France (ESA) Oct 12, 2009 This Envisat image captures Typhoon Melor spinning in the Pacific Ocean northeast of the Philippines on 6 October before slamming into the main Japanese island of Honshu on Thursday. As the typhoon approached Honshu, it was generating winds of 198 km/h, but weakened after making landfall. The strong winds associated with Melor have toppled trees and power lines, leaving some 10 000 homes ... read more |
. |
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook