ISRO launches Cartosat-3 and 13 nanosatellites from Sriharikota

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) rocket carrying advanced earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 US nanosatellites lifted off from the second launch pad of the rocket port on Wednesday.

At about 9.28 a.m. the 44.4 metre tall, weighing 320 ton PSLV-C47 rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the country’s rocket port.

According to ISRO, the 1,625 kg Cartosat-3 is an advanced acute satellite to obtain panchromatic and multispectral imagery with an operational life of five years.

It has the capability of take sharp pictures with a ground resolution of 0.25 metre in Panchromatic and 1 metre ground resolution or ground sample distance (GSD) in 4 Band Multispectral modes with a broad area of 16 km, said ISRO.

The Indian space agency also said, Cartosat-3 has many new technologies and elements like highly acute structural platform, payload platform, higher rate data handling and transmission systems, advanced onboard computer and new power electronics, dual gimbal antenna and others.

To be placed in an orbit of 509 km at an inclination of 97.5 degrees, the Cartosat-3 will provide images that serve to the demand of urban planning, rural resource and infrastructure development, coastal land use and land cover and also for strategic and defence purposes.

The Indian space agency officials used to say that they would supply the required images for various agencies.The sharp satellite images can also be used for surveillance purposes.

Sharing the ride with Cartosat-3 were 13 nano satellites from the USA for an undisclosed fee to be paid to NewSpace India Ltd, the new commercial arm of ISRO.

According to ISRO, 12 of the US nano satellites are named as FLOCK-4P are earth observation satellites and the 13th is called MESHBED, a communication test bed satellite.