'Eye In The Sky': India To Launch Its Most Advanced Geo-Imaging Satellite Gisat-1 On 12th August

India will be launching Gisat-1, its most advanced geo-imaging satellite, on 12^th August at 5:43 am from Sriharikota.

The satellite will image the country around four-five times a day and will thus make way for an enhanced monitoring of the subcontinent, particularly the border areas shared with China and Pakistan.

The GSLV-F10 rocket of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), will be putting Gisat-1 into the geo-orbit in what will be India’s first primary satellite launch in 2021.

Gisat-1 will be placed 36,000 km above the Earth in the geostationary orbit and will provide real-time information about a large area. At the same time, it will also allow for swift monitoring of natural disasters, short-term events, episodic amongst others.

The launch of this satellite has been postponed at least thrice this year. Initially scheduled to take off on 28^th March, a ‘minor issue’ had compelled for its postponement. Later on, restrictions imposed owing to the pandemic in the states where ISRO centres are located delayed the launch in the months of April and May.

Radar imaging Risat-1A satellite that captures pictures during both day and night and even sees through the clouds will follow Gisat-1 as the former is set to be launched in September this year, Economic Times reports.