Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory Astrosat into space, besides six satellites for Canada, Indonesia and the United States.
Though the national space agency has launched satellites for Indonesia and Canada earlier, this is the first time ISRO is launching satellites for the United States.
This is also the first time a space observatory is being launched into space.
Besides US’ NASA, space agencies of the European Union, Japan and Russia have launched similar facilities into the space.
PSLV was used to launch ASTROSAT
Though the national space agency has launched satellites for Indonesia and Canada earlier, this is the first time ISRO is launching satellites for the United States.
This is also the first time a space observatory is being launched into space.
Besides US’ NASA, space agencies of the European Union, Japan and Russia have launched similar facilities into the space.
PSLV was used to launch ASTROSAT
About ASTROSAT:
India does have ground-based telescopes (including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near Pune and the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh). But like all other ground-based telescopes, these can only detect radio waves and infrared radiation as they penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere.
However, in the case of higher frequency radiations, the atmosphere tends to block most ultraviolet light and all X-rays and gamma-rays.
Hence, a space-based observatory like ASTROSAT will be of immense value to researchers based in India.
India does have ground-based telescopes (including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near Pune and the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh). But like all other ground-based telescopes, these can only detect radio waves and infrared radiation as they penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere.
However, in the case of higher frequency radiations, the atmosphere tends to block most ultraviolet light and all X-rays and gamma-rays.
Hence, a space-based observatory like ASTROSAT will be of immense value to researchers based in India.
Objectives of ASTROSAT mission:
Understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes
Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars
Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy
Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the ultraviolet region.
Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars
Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy
Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the ultraviolet region.
Equipment on ASTROSAT:
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope
Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter
Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI)
Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM)
Difference between PSLV & GSLV:
Both PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are the satellite-launch vehicles developed by ISRO.
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope
Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter
Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI)
Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM)
Difference between PSLV & GSLV:
Both PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are the satellite-launch vehicles developed by ISRO.
PSLV:
PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the remote-sensing satellites with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits at 600-900 Km altitude.
The remote sensing satellites orbit the earth from pole-to-pole. An orbit is called sun-synchronous when the angle between the line joining the centre of the Earth and the satellite and the Sun is constant throughout the orbit. This is also called Low Earth Orbit & it enables the on-board camera to take images of the earth.
PSLV is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and third stage using solid rocket motors and second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
PSLV is classified into its various versions like PSLV-CA, PSLV-XL variants.
PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the remote-sensing satellites with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits at 600-900 Km altitude.
The remote sensing satellites orbit the earth from pole-to-pole. An orbit is called sun-synchronous when the angle between the line joining the centre of the Earth and the satellite and the Sun is constant throughout the orbit. This is also called Low Earth Orbit & it enables the on-board camera to take images of the earth.
PSLV is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and third stage using solid rocket motors and second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
PSLV is classified into its various versions like PSLV-CA, PSLV-XL variants.
GSLV:
The GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communication-satellites to the highly elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) at about 36000 Km altitude.
Due to their geo-synchronous nature, the satellites in these orbits appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
The GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communication-satellites to the highly elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) at about 36000 Km altitude.
Due to their geo-synchronous nature, the satellites in these orbits appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
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