Geo imaging Satellite (GISAT)

♤ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is designing a GEO Imaging Satellite (GISAT) to be launched during 2016-17.

♤ GISAT will carry a GEO Imager with multi-spectral (visible, near infra-red and thermal), multi-resolution (50m to 1.5 km) imaging instruments. GISAT will be placed in geostationary orbit of 36,000 km.

♤ The remote sensing satellites launched by ISRO revisit the same area once in every 2 to 24 days and acquire images of a geographical strip (swath) at different spatial resolution (360 meter to better than 1 meter). GISAT will provide near real time pictures of large areas of the country, under cloud free conditions, at frequent intervals. That is, selected Sector-wise image every 5 minutes and entire Indian landmass image every 30 minutes at 50m spatial resolution.

♤ Purpose: It is designed to act as a special ‘eye’ up in the sky to constantly watch over the country and alert authorities below of trouble spots, natural disasters, floods and forest.More importantly it will also keep a watch over our sensitive borders. It would complement the advanced meteorology and remote-sensing satellite, Insat-3D, due to be launched in December this year.