Remote-sensing satellite Cartosat-2B has sent high quality images of the Indian landmass, including Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
The images were taken by the satellite's panchromatic camera, which has a high resolution of 0.8 metre. That is, it can image even small objects such as cycles and mopeds on the road, and sheep and cattle grazing on meadows.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) put Cartosat-2B and four other satellites in orbit on July 12. It was launched from Sriharikota.
P.S. Veeraraghavan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, said Cartosat-2B was in good health and that “it has taken a good number of pictures.”
He said the images of Madurai included the famous Meenakshi temple with its gopurams (towers), the railway junction and a running train, the airport with parked aircraft, and another temple situated in the centre of a tank.
The images of Allahabad showed a fort in the town and the Triveni Sangam.
Three stages
The stacking up of the three stages of ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F06) in the second launch pad at Sriharikota had begun on July 14 as planned, Mr. Veeraraghavan said. The GSLV-F06 would put in orbit a communication satellite called GSAT-5B.
The integration of the four stages of the PSLV-C16 will begin in the first launch pad in August. The rocket will put in orbit three satellites — Resourcesat – 2, Youthsat and a satellite from Singapore. Resourcesat-2 and Youthsat belong to India. Youthsat will carry a Russian payload as well.
The launch of GSLV-F06, according to the VSSC Director, would take place in October. The PSLV-C16 would lift off two weeks later.
