Discovering TSAT-1A Satellite &Its Exclusive Features- Launched By SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket & Its Latest Updates
- Ananya Sharma
- Apr 9, 2024
- 4 min read
Hello, Everyone!
The 7th of April 2024, marked a groundbreaking achievement of Bharat's indigenous satellite engineering prowess; when Bharat-based company Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) dedicated to operating in aerospace and defense solutions located in Hyderabad and Uraguay-based company Satellogic Inc (SATL) dedicated to function in sub-meter resolution Earth Observation(EO) disclosed the successful positioning of TASL-1A satellite getting into the Bandwagon -1 mission to the space.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the mission from United States's Launch Complex 39 A Keneddy Space Centre stationed in Florida on the 7th of April,2024. Space X is a company owned by technology enthusiast Elon Musk. Although our country has several spy satellites engineered by ISRO; this is the first enterprise in the private sector resonating with the Make In India Theme.
Pic Source:https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Apr/09/spacexs-falcon-9-rocket-launched
Let us now focus on what is TSAT-1A satellite and what is we need to acquire according to its context.
About TSAT-1A Satellite:-
Let us discuss several key points in line with this satellite.
Bharat's Tata Advanced Systems Limited with the alliance of Uraguay's Satellogic Inc(SATL) engineered TSAT-IA with is one of its kind optical sub-meter resolution Earth Observation satellite; adhering to the agreement inked among the two companies on 29th Nov 2023.
The satellite TSAT-1A was manufactured in Tata Advanced Systems Limited's AIT-assembly, integration, and testing plant at its Vemegal facility located in Karnataka.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the mission from United States's Launch Complex 39 A Keneddy Space Centre stationed in Florida on the 7th of April,2024.
The satellite will be an enabler for our country's defense forces to acquire confidential information and this information will then be exchanged with other friendly countries. Also, the satellite will extend our defense forces' proficiency to plan meticulously, enact timely and judiciously make decisions against any potential danger to our country.
Although our country has several spy satellites engineered by ISRO; this is the first enterprise in the private sector resonating with the Make In India Theme.
Now let us talk about the salient features of TSAT-1A:-
Here are the exclusive features of the satellite:
The fundamental efficiency of the satellite is based on its proficiency in capturing military-grade imagery of the Earth's surface through its sub-meter resolution.
TASL's TSAT-IA is one of its kind optical sub-meter resolution Earth Observation satellite as the satellite is provisioned with dual capabilities i.e. multi-spectral as well as hyper-spectral imaging proficiency. This technical prowess enables the satellite to accumulate data spanned across a large spectrum of wavelengths entailed in the electromagnetic spectrum; rendering a more insightful and intricate know-how about the data accumulated about the land, water, and diverse renewable resources.
The satellite features : i)Ability to track data in large numbers ii)Wider Dynamic Range which implies the efficiency of the satellite to track data in extremely bright as well as dark areas. iii)Low- Latency delivery of data NOTE: WHAT IS MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING & HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING? ANS: When an image is taken and analyzed over a wide range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum then it is referred to as Hyperspectral Imaging; however if the same image is taken and analyzed over a limited range of wavelengths of approximately 3 to 4 colors then it is referred as multi-spectral imaging. NOTE: WHAT IS ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM? ANS: Before understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum we first have to understand dispersion which is a unique characteristic of white light. If a white light transits through a prism it gets split into several different colours. The series can be abbreviated as VIBGYOR.
White Light is composed of lights of diverse colors and if all the colors are grouped in a manner that all the colors take different places then we refer to it as a Spectrum. Different properties of light can be analyzed by considering light as a wave at a particular wavelength. This property of light being split into several components having different colors is known as dispersion.
Violet color has a wavelength of 400-440 nm Indigo color has a wavelength of 440-460 nm
Blue color has a wavelength of 460-500nm
Green color has a wavelength of 500-570nm
Yellow color has a wavelength of 570-590nm
Orange color has a wavelength of 590-620nm
Red color has a wavelength of 620-700nm Our eyes can perceive up to a wavelength of 400-700 nanometre.1 nanometre is 10 to the power -9 meter/sec.
Light is called an electromagnetic wave since it has both electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicular to one another propagating through space. An acceleration in electric charge leads to the production of an Electric field. As per Maxwell's theory, a changing electric field induces a magnetic field and vice versa. Therefore we can term light as an electromagnetic wave as it has oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
An electromagnetic spectrum is like a list of different types of light and energy spanning from radio waves which are used for broadcasting, visible light i.e. what our eyes can see to X-rays and gamma rays which are typically useful in medical imaging. It resembles more like a rainbow with every color having its frequency and wavelength which outlines how they behave in different matter or medium and for what purposes they can be used.
Latest Updates of TSAT-1A:-
The satellite was positioned in space on Monday{8th April 2024}.
pic Source: Hindustan Times
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