IRS-P6

Launch data: Designation 28051 / 03046A Launch date 17 Oct 2003 - 04:52 UT Launch site Sriharikota Launch vehicle PSLV-C5(#8) Mission Government: Remote sensing / imaging Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  802 x 875 km Eccentricity  5,06E-03 Inclination  98.7 deg Period  101.68 min

Specifications

LISS 3 (Linear Imaging Self Scanner) with CCD detector arrays

LISS 4 (Linear Imaging Self Scanner)

AwiFS

Description:

• Focusing primarily on natural resources, India's most advanced Earth studies satellite will monitor agricultural areas, land management data, and will collect information on water resources.
• Disaster management is another application well covered by ResourceSat, whose three instruments are similar to those carried by its predecessors, but with advancements. With a maximum resolution of about 19 feet, wide coverage swaths, and regular revisit capability, the craft should become the flagship of the now six-satellite Indian Remote Sensing fleet.

Mission details:

• Liftoff of the eighth PSLV rocket with the IRS-P6 satellite occurred at 0452 GMT (12:52 a.m. EDT) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, India, located on a narrow island along the coast with the Bay of Bengal. It was mid-morning at the launch site.
• The four-stage, 146-foot tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle took 18 minutes to deliver its payload into a 500-mile high Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.7 degrees.
• Scientists and engineers in the control center in Bangalore were expecting a successful deployment of the craft's solar panels shortly after launch. Five ground stations scattered around the globe will be picking up signals from the satellite as it passes overhead.
• Also called ResourceSat, the 3,000-pound IRS-P6 will offer the continuity of remote sensing data provided by the IRS-1C and IRS-1D satellites that have surpassed their planned lifetimes.
• Scheduled to last for five years, ResourceSat will be joined by IRS-P5 in space within the next year. That craft will devote much its life to mapping and cartographic applications.
• In addition to ResourceSat, an 88-pound microsatellite was also slated to be launched on this mission to provide space-based amateur radio services. However, after failing a critical test, it was decided to remove the small spacecraft from the launch to fix the problem, then fly it on a later rocket launch.