Another Indian Military Satellite in Orbit !!

[Chanakyaa]

Microsat-R is an small Indian earth observation satellite built for the Indian military Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The satellite has a launch mass of 740 kg and will be orbit the earth at a height of 274 km, much lower than the Cartosat satellites to increase resolution. Reportedly it was built by a handful of DRDO laboratories, not by ISRO.

Sriharikota: A new variant of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket was launched with the country’s defence imaging satellite Microsat R and student satellite Kalamsat on Thursday night. The rocket was scheduled to eject Microsat R in about 14 minutes after take-off at an altitude of about 277 km.

A senior officer of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said, “There is an increased demand for satellites from strategic sectors. About six-seven satellites are planned to be built.”

The GSAT-7 and GSAT-7A are the only two satellites dedicated to military communication. All other earth observation and communication satellites launched earlier were of dual-use _ civilian and defence.

During the fourth stage, at about 103rd minute after the lift-off, the rocket would turn into an orbital platform for Kalamsat at an altitude of 450 km. The Kalamsat is a payload developed by students and Chennai-based Space Kidz India. It will be the first to use the rocket’s fourth stage as an orbital platform. The fourth stage will be moved to a higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments, ISRO had said.

ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said, “ISRO is open to all students of India. Bring to us your satellites and we will launch it for you. Let’s make India into a science-fairing nation.”

 

[#hydra#]

Most secretive Sat ever launched by isro, so far.

 

[Dante80]

740kg means that there shouldn't be a lot of fuel stored for station-keeping - if any, Gunter is not listing any propulsion modules. Wouldn't the very low polar orbit result in a rapid orbital decay for the spacecraft?

This makes me think that DRDO is partly using this sat experimentally, maybe to increase the TRL on a new set of optical reconnaissance instruments that will be used in the Cartosat-3 series which is under active development.

For reference. Here is Microsat-R.
Here are the Cartosat program spacecraft.

 

[GHALIB]

Microsat-R is an small Indian earth observation satellite built for the Indian military Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The satellite has a launch mass of 740 kg and will be orbit the earth at a height of 274 km, much lower than the Cartosat satellites to increase resolution. Reportedly it was built by a handful of DRDO laboratories, not by ISRO.

Sriharikota: A new variant of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket was launched with the country’s defence imaging satellite Microsat R and student satellite Kalamsat on Thursday night. The rocket was scheduled to eject Microsat R in about 14 minutes after take-off at an altitude of about 277 km.

A senior officer of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said, “There is an increased demand for satellites from strategic sectors. About six-seven satellites are planned to be built.”

The GSAT-7 and GSAT-7A are the only two satellites dedicated to military communication. All other earth observation and communication satellites launched earlier were of dual-use _ civilian and defence.

During the fourth stage, at about 103rd minute after the lift-off, the rocket would turn into an orbital platform for Kalamsat at an altitude of 450 km. The Kalamsat is a payload developed by students and Chennai-based Space Kidz India. It will be the first to use the rocket’s fourth stage as an orbital platform. The fourth stage will be moved to a higher circular orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments, ISRO had said.

ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said, “ISRO is open to all students of India. Bring to us your satellites and we will launch it for you. Let’s make India into a science-fairing nation.”

Great feat by indiIn scientists.

 

[vijayjha]

740kg means that there shouldn't be a lot of fuel stored for station-keeping - if any, Gunter is not listing any propulsion modules. Wouldn't the very low polar orbit result in a rapid orbital decay for the spacecraft?

This makes me think that DRDO is partly using this sat experimentally, maybe to increase the TRL on a new set of optical reconnaissance instruments that will be used in the Cartosat-3 series which is under active development.

For reference. Here is Microsat-R.
Here are the Cartosat program spacecraft.

If other satellite with advanced feature is in pipeline then it make sense to have a lighter satellite by having less fuel in it as it may be replaced by another one with more advanced feature.
Just a theory , once the fuel is over it can be used as target for ASAT missile.

 

[Dante80]

If other satellite with advanced feature is in pipeline then it make sense to have a lighter satellite by having less fuel in it as it may be replaced by another one with more advanced feature.
Just a theory , once the fuel is over it can be used as target for ASAT missile.

Agreed in concept, this is not a case it applies though. The weight of Microsat-R is about the same as the Cartosat series satellites. Actually, Microsat-R weighs a little more than every launched Cartosat iteration. Cartosats don't really need much - if any - fuel for station-keeping, since their orbit provides a much stabler environment for prolonged operations.

If my theory about Microsat-R testing features for Cartosat-3 is correct, the only reason DRDO put this into such a orbit was simply due to the nature of the sat being a part of the overall payload for the LV, not the sole passenger on board the new PSLV. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Chanakyaa]

740kg means that there shouldn't be a lot of fuel stored for station-keeping - if any, Gunter is not listing any propulsion modules. Wouldn't the very low polar orbit result in a rapid orbital decay for the spacecraft?

This makes me think that DRDO is partly using this sat experimentally, maybe to increase the TRL on a new set of optical reconnaissance instruments that will be used in the Cartosat-3 series which is under active development.

For reference. Here is Microsat-R.
Here are the Cartosat program spacecraft.

It could be ANYTHING , but for sure they have not released much info. ISRO is ALREADY working of Telescopic , GeoStationary Satellite for Constatnt Observation Capability, should be ready in a few Years.