Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 1

APPLICATIONS OF SATELLITES

In the previous chapter, we learnt about Satellites, here in this chapter, let us explore the
applications of satellites. Since the first satellite launch in 1957, satellites have entered into
wide arenas of global applications in modern times. The early satellites were usually equipped
with payloads related to Space Science, Telecommunication and Earth Observation
experiments. It is here that we pause and recollect an idea proposed by Arthur C. Clarke in
1945 in his essay titled ‘Extra Terrestrial Relays’. Here he proposes the idea of using satellites
for worldwide radio coverage, facilitating long-range communications. It is fascinating to learn
that the satellites were envisioned to serve global communication long before the first satellite
was launched!
The modern-day application of satellites goes way
beyond global communication. They are used to serve
the purposes of navigation, earth observations and also
for performing observations and experiments of outer
space environments. The first satellite launched by
ISRO in 1975, Aryabhata - was intended to help conduct
experiments related to solar physics and cosmic X-rays.
Hence, this mission can be classified under missions
intended for scientific observations. In the year 1981,
ISRO launched APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload
Experiment) as an experimental communication Fig. 1: Araine Passenger Payload
satellite whose success led to the launch of INSAT Experiment (APPLE)
satellite series marking the birth of operational
communication satellites in India.
Applications of Satellites are categorized based on the types of satellites and their payload.
That means what task a satellite is assigned to do. For example, if a satellite's task is to capture
a picture of the Earth, applications will be based on the data that we can use from the pictures.

Let us learn about the following types of satellites, how are these satellites different in their
working method and their applications one by one.
I. Communication Satellite
II. Remote Sensing Satellite
III. Navigation Satellite

Communication Satellites:
Communication Satellites are launched to orbit around the earth or any other planet to collect
information and transmit it back to the planet.
On the other hand, they are launched to expand the ability of networks and connections on the
planet. Thus, such a satellite can make long-distance communication and information transfer
much more effortless. Considering this, we can expand the application of communication
satellites and use them for different applications such as Weather forecasts, Navigation,
telephone signals, television broadcasting, etc.

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Working of Communication Satellite:
The communication between the satellites and the stations on earth takes place by transferring
the information. The information is transmitted from the ground stations on the planet. At the
same time, the satellites retransmit the data back to the earth using the download link. These
satellites are designed in such a way that multiple signals can be simultaneously relayed.

A medium is required to enable communication for receiving and transmitting. In the case of
the communications satellite, usually this medium is radio signals. The electromagnetic waves
in the meter wave range carry the information to the satellites and back to the earth. Now let
us understand how this works.

The basic function of the communication satellite is to gather the signals received from the
earth through the radio antennas and
retransmit them back to earth. Thus, the
process of communicating with satellites will
involve four significant steps.

a) A signal transmission will occur

from an Uplink Earth station or other
equipment transmitting the desired
signal to the satellite.
b) The received signal is amplified by
the satellite.
c) The signal is transmitted back to the
earth as downlink.
d) The antennas or receiving equipment
will receive this signal.
Fig. 2: Working of communication satellite

To ensure continuous communication to a particular area, the satellite shall always be in the
view of the site. As the earth is rotating, it is impossible to have continuous coverage unless
the satellite also rotates along with the planet in the same direction and position. This is
achieved by Geostationary satellites. The height or altitude at which the satellite is positioned
to accomplish that synchronous rotation is roughly 36000 km above the earth's surface.

As per the International Telecommunication Union, there are several types of communication
services which are supported by satellites
1. Fixed Satellite Services
2. Broadcast Satellite Services
3. Mobile Satellite Services
4. Radio determination Satellite Services
5. Meteorological Satellite Services
6. Radio Navigation Satellite Services
7. Earth Exploration Satellite Services
8. Amateur Satellite Services
9. Inter Satellite Services

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Applications and Uses of Communication Satellites
With the goal of outreach and to make remote communication more efficient and versatile, the
communication satellites find multiple applications in the current times. The diversity of the
applications includes DTH Broadcasting, Television, VSAT, and DSNG. The satellites are
used to establish general communication and consistent military communication.

● Telecommunication: The communication satellites are used to efficiently provide

voice and data communication with the
local and far-flung areas. INSAT series
of satellites are being used for this
purpose. These satellites are also used
for TV broadcast and meteorological
services and radio networking.
Satellites such as VSATs are also being
used for advanced communication and
networking purposes. Fig. 3: Telecommunication

● Telemedicine: This is one of the unique applications of communication satellite

developed especially for rural and remote
locations. Through telemedicine, the
mobile units are being connected
seamlessly to the major hospitals and
medical hubs. Through this application,
the medical practitioners are able to
access the data rapidly and be able to
provide medical services in remote Fig. 4: Telemedicine
locations.

● Tele-education: The communication

satellites are used to make education
available to the students and professionals
in remote locations. Through this
arrangement, the learner can get the
education through the video over the
internet. This mode of education can be
referred to as E-learning.

Fig. 5: Tele-education

‘EDUSAT’ is the thematic satellite developed by ISRO which is dedicated to remote

education. The satellite delivers interactive educational delivery services through video
conferencing.

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 4

● Banking: Currently, the banking industry
is one of the world's largest and most
important economic activities. Banks and
ATMs require a secured and reliable
connectivity in order to transmit data from
their location to a server and vice versa.
Satellites provide that reliable connectivity
for all the limitless transactions using the
virtual private network (VPN). Fig. 6: Withdrawing from ATM

● 5G Network: All the devices are being connected and the ground connections for the
cellular network are not enough to provide a seamless connection. Thus, the fifth
generation of network development will modernize the foundation of network and
communication for the economies as well as militaries. The development of a 5G
network will allow the satellites to help connect to more devices. Thus, the future
demands of the connection will be addressed. Through this technology, it will also be
possible to connect the remote and rural areas in the mainstream network. This
technology will also help to develop the Internet of Things technology.

● Satellite internet using LEO constellation: The renowned private companies across
the world are working on the development
of low-cost internet at remote locations
with low latency. These mega
constellations of the satellites are small
communication satellites in the Low Earth
Orbits, unlike conventional GEO orbits.
The main advantage is the offer the broad
band internet to users at very high speeds
and low latency. Fig. 7: Satellite Internet

● Development of Internet of Things technology through smallsats: The technology

of the Internet of Things allows unconnected or non-connectable objects to be
connected to the internet. The change of the data can be recorded for the given
unconnected object. Through the launch of small communication satellites in the low
earth orbits, the number of IoT devices being connected with the internet can be
increased and a consistent network can be provided. Thus, autonomous cars and
instruments as well as remote connectivity can be made possible.

● Real-time tracking: With the future developments in communication satellites, it will

be possible to track the real-time data for earth observations such as climate change,
disaster management, and also for military applications.

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 ● TV Broadcasting and DTH: Various
programs such as Movies, Live Sports and
Live News are available on Television
through direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
and direct-to-home(DTH) service
providers, such as DishTV or Tata Play, in
which communication satellites play a key
role. Fig. 8: Television

● News Broadcasting: Communication

satellites enable the Outside Broadcasting
(OB) Van to connect to the TV Studio for
broadcasting real-time information.

Fig. 9: OB Vans of Doordarshan Channel

How does a TV Work?

There are five major components in a DTH or DBS satellite system:
a) Programming sources: These are the content prepared by a third party, which has to
be made available on TVs. Example: Nat Geo Channel or Star Sports that would live
stream some sports tournament. The programming sources take the rights for these
contents to play on TVs.
b) Broadcast centre: The TV provider receives signals from various programming
sources as mentioned above and beams a broadcasting signal to the satellites in
geosynchronous orbit from the broadcast centre.
c) Satellites: Satellites in geosynchronous orbit receive the signals from the broadcast
station and rebroadcast them to Earth.
d) Dish: Individual dishes at homes pick up the signals from the satellite or multiple
satellites and pass them on to the receiver in the viewer's house.
e) Receiver: It processes the satellite's signal and passes it on to a standard TV.

Satellite

Receiver

Source

Broadcast Centre
Dish

Fig.10. Block diagram of Satellite TV

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 • Radio Broadcast: It is a type of digital broadcast that transmits high fidelity
programme channels for national as well as
regional radio stations. The audio signals with
greater clarity in the audio and consistency than
conventional radio are covered over large areas.
A satellite radio provider uses satellites to
broadcast audio channels of entertainment,
sports, and news programs to customers at home,
work or in vehicles in both rural and urban
centres. Fig. 11: Radio Broadcast

• Search and Rescue: The search and rescue activities are carried out by Coast Guard,
Navy and Air Force, where satellites establish connectivity among the people at remote
locations for fishermen and victims of the cyclone. In 2013, ISRO's search and rescue
support for 14 distress incidents in the Indian service area through the Indian system
contributed to saving 94 human lives.

Fig. 12: Search Rescue operated with the help of ISRO

Earth Observational Satellite:

Satellite remote sensing is another major technology that finds wide range of applications like
meteorology, disaster monitoring and prediction, land cover classifications and others. They
enable data collection over large coverage areas and continuous monitoring of surfaces with
frequent revisits compared to other remote sensing technology.
All surfaces emit radiations based on their temperature or reflect a certain portion of the
incident radiations based on their reflecting properties. Satellite remote sensing, in simple
terms, refers to the collection and recording of information about these emitted or reflected
radiations at different wavelengths by the onboard satellite sensors. This information is used to
determine various other crucial parameters in different applications. Based on the source of the
light used for remote sensing, it can be classified into the following types.
1. Active remote sensing: In this method, the satellites have their very own artificial
source of radiation that is used to illuminate the region of interest. The radiation
reflected or scattered by the region is detected and recorded by the sensors.
2. Passive remote sensing: These systems are used to detect the solar radiations reflected
by the surface or the thermal radiations emitted by the surfaces. They do not use an
active radiation source for illuminating the region of interest.

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 7

 Fig. 13: Types of Remote Sensing

Most of the remote sensing applications are based on passive remote sensing. Active remote
sensing satellites usually incorporate a microwave or laser-based system as the source of
illumination.
Satellite remote sensing is also classified based on the region of the electromagnetic spectrum
used for the study. They are
1. Optical remote sensing
(includes visible region
and near IR region)
2. Thermal Infrared remote
sensing (includes mid
wave and long wave IR
region)
3. Microwave remote sensing
Fig. 14: Electromagnetic Spectrum

Optical remote sensing finds its application in imaging the Earth in visible regions, the study
of vegetation covers, the study of water bodies and other applications. Thermal infrared remote
sensing is mainly employed for studying the temperatures of different surfaces. ‘Landsat’
satellite series, a joint program by NASA and USGS, is one of the longest running Earth
observation satellite programs. It employs both optical remote sensing and thermal infrared
remote sensing for imaging Earth.
The Indian Remote Sensing program started off with the launch of the Bhaskara -1 satellite in
1979 and IRS-1A satellite in 1988. IRS-1A was the first operational satellite, followed by a
series of IRS satellites dedicated to specific applications like natural resource management,
disaster management and support, water resources information, and forest and land mappings.
The Earth Observation programs in India are overlooked
by the National Natural Resources Management System
(NNRMS), which is a national level inter-agency system.
It facilitates the remote sensing application into national,
state, and local level projects. The Oceansat satellite
series launched by ISRO under the IRS program is
dedicated specifically for oceanographic and atmospheric Fig. 15: IRS -1 Satellite
studies. They help measure parameters like sea surface

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temperature, sea surface wind speed, water vapour content in the atmosphere, cloud liquid
water content, coastal circulations, etc. These parameters are then used in marine weather
forecasting, monsoon predictions and studying cyclones. Cartosat series of satellites are used
for obtaining high-resolution imagery. ISRO has also created a geoportal named ‘Bhuvan’ in
order to enable easy access to the remote sensing data by people who want to innovate and
develop downstream applications.

Applications of Earth Observational Satellites:

• Agriculture and Soil: Information on crop statistics such as distribution and storage
of food grains, Govt. policies, pricing, procurement and food security and so are
required for planning and decision-making purposes in the Agricultural domain.
Remote Sensing based acreage and yield forecasts based on weather parameters or
spectral indices are used to provide production forecasts. Remote sensing data
addresses many critical aspects, such as crop area estimation, crop yield & production
estimation, crop condition, deriving basic soil information, cropping system studies,
effects of droughts on crops, experimental crop insurance, etc. ISRO is also actively
involved in the national level assessment of Horticultural Crops and their coverage
across the agro-climatic regions in the country.

Fig. 16: Growth Progression of Wheat Crops

• Renewable Energy: Satellite remote sensing provides a synoptic view, covering larger
areas continuously for longer periods. Winds, solar and wave energy resources can be
assessed with the help of Earth Observation data. Assessment of solar energy from
Geostationary satellites like
INSAT 3D & 3DR, ocean
wind energy from
Scatterometer data and
ocean wave energy from
Altimeter data & numerical
models are being carried out.
A mobile app such as
VEDAS allows individuals
to assess rooftop solar
energy based on geolocation
inputs. Fig. 17: Solar and Wind Energy

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• Forest and Environment: Remote sensing
data is used for various applications in forestry
and the environment, such as Biodiversity
characterization, Wetlands, Forest & Biomass
mapping, Land Degradation and
Desertification processes, Coastal wetlands,
Coral reefs, Mangroves, Glaciers, Air and
Water pollution assessment, etc. The multi-
resolution satellite data are used for historical
change assessment, biomass estimation,
automated annual forest changes, etc. Forest
fires are routinely monitored using multi-
temporal data and near real-time satellite data.

Fig. 17: Forest Cover Map, India. (Credits: FSI)

• Geology and Geomorphology: Remote

sensing is used by significant exploration
programmes in the country, such as Mines,
Steel, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and
Atomic Energy. The synoptic view
provided by Remote sensing data helps in
Lithological, Geomorphological and
Structural mapping. In contrast, spectral
characteristics are used for lithological &
mineralogical discrimination and for
mapping regions of hydrothermal
alterations indicative of mineralization.
Fig. 18: Satellite Image showing Types of Rocks

• Land Resources: Effective

management of natural resources
is a very important aspect of
sustaining a healthy economy.
Space-based observations provide
synoptic and multi-temporal
coverage of natural resources.
Monitoring them using EO data
helps to plan appropriate
management strategies for their
optimal utilisation. Land use
/cover, Land degeneration
mapping, wasteland mapping, and
desertification status mapping are
the major areas/themes where
space data is used to manage the
country's natural resources. Fig. 19: Land Use Land Cover Map of Andhra Pradesh, 2015-16

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 10

• Ocean Science: The major applications of data from satellites observing the water
bodies are identification of potential fishing zones, sea state forecasting, coastal zone
studies and inputs for weather forecasting and climatic studies. The satellites also
provide ocean surface wind vector data for weather forecasting, cyclone detection and
tracking, and ocean state
monitoring and
prediction. SARAL is an Indo-
French satellite designed to study
ocean circulation and sea surface
elevation leading to a better
understanding of the ocean
mesoscale variability. SARAL
also includes monitoring the
main continental waters level
(lakes, rivers, closed seas), mean
sea level variations, the
observation of polar oceans, and
the study of continental ices and
Fig. 20: Satellite image of Water Current
sea ices.

• Urban Development: Traditional mapping methods are not feasible to keep up with
such rapid changes, preventing successful sustainable ‘smart city' development. High-
resolution satellite data provides information on the increase in the rate of population,
changes in land usage, urban sprawl, etc., which can be managed and planned for a
broad expansion of urban environments. Satellite-based remote sensing is advantageous
in monitoring urban land use dynamics because of the extensive spatial coverage for
mapping applications, frequent revisit periods, and wide availability. Urban planners
use satellite imagery as an invaluable source of information supporting planning
decisions for,
- Zoning and Urban planning
- Pollution, traffic analysis and carbon footprint
- 3D modelling for digital city creation
- Modelling City infrastructure

Fig. 21: Urban Growth Monitoring using Bhuvan Portal of ISRO

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 11

 • Water Resources: Remote Sensing helps
in better assessing and managing water
resources due to the synoptic coverage of
the EO constellation of satellites. Majorly,
surface water and groundwater can be
monitored. While surface water manifests
in terms of water bodies, reservoirs, river
channels, snow cover etc., Space data is
used for drawing hydrological models on
groundwater level, short-term and
seasonal snow-melt runoff, drinking and
sanitation water level, etc.

Fig. 22: Ground Water Prospects Map: Multiple

GIS Layers Integrated

• Weather and Climate: Weather plays

an essential role in the nation's overall
activities. Weather satellites carry
instruments called radiometers that scan
the Earth to form images. These
instruments usually carry a small
telescope or antenna, a scanning
mechanism, and one or more detectors
for visible, infrared, or microwave
radiation. Through these data, the
scientific community can predict if there
are any hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy
rainfall, cloudy sky and even the high
temperature in summer, drought
outlooks, etc., and create awareness
about them before in hand. Fig. 23: Accumulated Daily Rain Forecast for 20th
September 2018

Difference between Weather and Climate:

Weather refers to the instantaneous state of the atmosphere, and Climate is the long-term
average state of the atmosphere (typically a few decades). For example, we say, "The weather
is hot today" and "Climate is hot this year compared to others".

Navigational Satellites:
All are very well aware of GPS used in smartphones, cars, watches, etc. That same GPS
functions based on the information sent by satellites orbiting earth continuously to provide
navigation aid. In simple terms, navigation with satellite aid can be called Satellite-based
Navigation. GPS is a Navigation Satellite system developed by the USA. Many more Satellite
Navigation systems, including the Indian IRNSS satellite system (NaVic), are now available.

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 12

Satellite-based navigation systems have revolutionized the modern world with their wide
potential. Their ability to provide accurate positioning and cover a large area makes satellite-
based navigation systems more reliable and popular. The principle of operation of the Satellite
Navigational System is of two types.
1. Doppler effect-based systems: The first satellite system explicitly intended for
navigation was developed in the 1960s by the US Navy, called as Transit system or
Navy Navigation Satellite System (NNSS). It was based on the principle of the doppler
effect. The satellite transmits signals that contain information regarding its path and
time. The onboard atomic clock provides the precise time data for the satellite. The
receiver station on the ground measures the doppler shift patterns in the satellite signals
as it passes over the station. This pattern, along with the information on satellite orbit,
time of signal transmission, and signal reception, is used to determine the location of
the receiver station. In this method, a satellite transmitting in one frequency is sufficient
for determining the location of the receiver. However, two frequency systems were
employed in Transit to increase the accuracy for military applications.

2. Trilateration based systems: The US Navy launched two Timation satellites to

increase the time ranging accuracy, one in 1967 and the other in 1969. The success of
Timation satellites combined with the NNSS system led to the conceiving of a Global
Positioning System. As a result, Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging (NAVSTAR)
GPS was launched by the US Navy in 1978. The NAVSTAR GPS works on the
principle of trilateration. It is simply an
extension of a Doppler effect based
navigational system, but with signals
from three satellites used for
determining the location of the receiver
station. Suppose one imagines the
distance between the receiver station
and the satellites as the radius of three
spheres with satellites located at the
center of those spheres. In that case, the
receiver station will be located at the
point of intersection of these spheres.
The modern global navigation systems
like GPS from USA, GLONASS from
Russia, and Galileo from ESA employ Fig. 24: Trilateration
the trilateration method to determine the
receiver's position.

India launched a regional satellite-based augmentation system called GPS Aided – GEO
Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) in 2001. This was intended to develop and certify a satellite-
based augmented system for civil aviation applications. Augmentation is a method of
improving the accuracy of the navigational satellite system receivers by making use of other
additional reference signals into the calculations. The success of GAGAN paved the way for
the development of an independent regional navigation satellite system by ISRO called as

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 13

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite
System (IRNSS). It goes by the
operational name Navigation with
Indian Constellation – NavIC. The
space segment of NavIC consists of 7
satellites with three satellites in GEO
and four satellites in inclined
Geosynchronous Orbits. Satellite-based
navigation finds its application in
geodesy, telecom services,
transportation, maritime security,
surveying and disaster management.
Fig. 25: GAGAN Working System

Applications of Satellite Navigation (SATNAV):

SATNAV has many more applications than the intended design objectives during the 1980s.
Artificial Intelligence combined with satnav technology made life easy with almost zero effort
job profiles. We will discuss its importance and applications now.
I. Civilian Applications:
a. Travel: Satellite navigation made travel to unknown places made simple. Everyone
is familiar with google maps and can safely travel to almost any place with the best
AI recommended routes for less duration and uninterrupted paths.

b. Tracking & Monitoring: It has become common to track a package location,

whether a parcel or food delivery. Ridesharing companies like Uber, Ola, and
Rapido made travel safe by providing live route monitoring options.
- Tracking migratory animals (birds, animals, etc., using collars)
- Collision Avoidance of trains, Automatic Level crossings of railways

Fig. 26: Applications of Satellite Navigation

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 14

 c. Safety of Hikers, Climbers were increased by carrying a satnav device so they can
find their way back if lost. If Hikers themselves cannot find their way back, it still
helps the rescue team reach the lost person before it's too late.

d. Automobile: Satellite navigation is available is now

available in almost every current generation
automobile with non-internet-based connections
helping to reach the destination safely. It also helps
in tracking lost and robbed vehicles. Civilian UAVs
and Driverless vehicles use SATNAV for navigation.
Fig. 27: Sat Nav enabled
Automobiles
e. Marine: Boats and ships can be easily lost in the vast
seas and oceans. With satellite navigation aid, self-
steering and automatic chart plotters technology
made sailing easy. Having a satnav receiver helps in
rescue operations and also improves security.

Fig. 28: Sat Nav enabled Ships

f. Aviation: Aircraft with satnav services decreases the
load on the pilot and decreases accidents. Flying
through zero visibility conditions like storms and fog
can be handled smoothly.

Fig. 29: Aircraft tracking

II. Surveying, Mining and other applications:
a. Surveying: Building, Roads and other construction companies used satnav
technologies for precise and accurate readings for surveying over vast lands
making budget estimation and construction planning simple.

b. Mining and Archaeology: Both sectors use satnav for 3D mapping of sites for
excavation and detailed site features.

Fig. 30: 3D Mapping of Dump area

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 15

 c. Agriculture: Agriculture technology advanced a lot after integrating satnav with
agricultural equipment. Sowing, Harvesting and other agriculture operations are
now automated.

d. Geophysics: Earth tectonics

move continuously with
changing landscapes and
terrain features. Placing
satnav receiver sensors at the
desired site helps to conduct
study remotely and get
accurate and precise data in
real-time.

Fig. 31: Layers of Earth using Satellites

e. Space Applications: Spacecraft with satnav receivers enables orbit determination

precisely. It also helps in performing autonomous navigation and rendezvous tasks.

f. Military Operations: Unmanned

Aerial Vehicles (UAV),
Missiles, and Bombers are
updated with guided technology
that was achieved with the
integration of satnav
technology. This makes damage
minimal by reaching the
targeted destination precisely.

Fig. 32: Military Operations using Space Technology

g. Law and order: Apart from

rescue and search operations,
law enforcement uses GPS
anklets to monitor their activity
to keep a tab on criminals on
parole. Geo-fencing and GPS
trackers are some other devices
used by the police force.

Fig. 33: Geo-fencing and tracking using Satellites

Scientific and Space Study Applications:

Outer space contains radiations from all the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Earth’s
atmosphere is opaque to a large portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allowing only specific
wavelengths of the incoming radiations to reach the surface. We cannot see any wavelengths
that lie outside the visible spectrum with our naked eyes, but we do have sensors and techniques

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 16

to detect these wavelengths. A satellite equipped with these special sensors will allow us to
observe the universe in different spectral regions like UV, Gamma, and X-rays. Such
observations are important for us as they help us understand the history, evolution and current
state of the celestial systems around us. This is the very motive behind the development of
space telescopes.

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched by NASA in 1990, scanned the skies in the UV, visible
and near IR regions of the spectrum and captured some of the most spectacular celestial events.

The AstroSat, launched by ISRO in 2015,

consists of five payloads, namely
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT),
Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter
(LAXPC), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT),
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI)
and Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM). The first
payload allows for observation in the visible
and UV region of the electromagnetic
spectrum. The remaining payloads are
intended for different studies to be
performed in the X-ray regime. Fig. 34: AstroSat

The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) on board AstroSat has just witnessed the birth of
black holes for the five hundredth time. This is a milestone for the Indian astrophysics’
community. One way of looking for black holes are the deaths of massive stars through
“Gamma-Ray Bursts” (GRBs). These explosions are so powerful that they send intense jets of
light and high-energy radiation shooting across the universe.

The first-ever AstroSat observation was of a GRB through CZTI. A unique flagship feature of
CZTI is to study the X-ray polarization and provide information on the newly formed black
hole.

Fig. 35: Image showing the 500 GRBs observed by AstroSat CZTI.
(Credits: IUCAA)

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 17

Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission):
Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), popularly known as Mangalyaan, marks India's first venture
into interplanetary space. MOM was designed to explore and observe the Mars surface features,
mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere. Further, it also performed a focused, research in
search of methane in the Martian atmosphere to enquire about the possibility or the past
existence of life on the planet.

The far distances involved in interplanetary missions

presented a demanding challenge. However, developing
and mastering the technologies essential for these missions
opened endless possibilities for space exploration. After
leaving Earth, the Orbiter endured the interplanetary space
for 300 days before Mars captured it. Apart from deep
space communications and navigation-guidance-control
capabilities, the mission required autonomy at the Fig. 36: MOM Satellite
spacecraft end to handle contingencies. Some of the
payloads on the orbit:

● Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP) is an absorption cell photometer. It measures the

relative abundance of Deuterium and Hydrogen from spectral studies of the Martian
upper atmosphere (Exosphere and Exobase).
● Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM) was designed to measure methane in the Martian
atmosphere with a particle-per-billion accuracy and also capacity to map the sources.

● Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) is a quadrupole mass

spectrometer capable of analysing the neutral composition in the range of 1 to 300 amu,
the range in which the bulk proportion of gases of the Martian atmosphere falls.

● Mars Colour Camera (MCC) images give useful inputs about the surface features and
composition of the Martian surface and to monitor the dynamic events and weather of
Mars.

● Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (TIS) is for surface and atmospheric exploration

using thermal remote sensing and also detecting the sources of thermal radiation in the
Martian environment.

The spacecraft launched on November 5, 2013, arrived safely into Mars orbit on September
24, 2014. As a result, India made history by becoming the first-ever country to reach Mars on
the first attempt and it was done on a light budget.

Mangalyaan was planned for a mission life of six months. However, due to fuel-saving
manoeuvres and accurate orbital injections and firings saved 20 Kg of fuel, making 40 Kg of
fuel at the time of Mars's high elliptical orbit insertion. The functioning of instruments with no
or less degradation even after six months of working under such harsh conditions is another
great feat of the orbiter for its ongoing mission life.

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 18

ISRO utilized this opportunity to make use of the data and
worked towards familiarizing the Martian conditions. Control
and Command Unit made necessary orbital corrections to
further prolong the life of MOM to endure solar eclipse, bursts,
flares and other mission unplanned phenomena. MOM
instruments' prolonged functioning also helps to understand
the response and health of the instrument to work in such harsh
conditions.

Fig. 37: Schiaparelli Crater captured by MOM

Intersecting valleys or ridges present in between Valles

Marineris and the Tharsis region on Mars. This region is
characterised by a system of steep-walled canyons and
valleys that give it the aspect of a naturally formed maze
or labyrinth. This image is captured by Mars Colour
Camera (MCC) from 10,392 km above.
Mangalyaan has helped publish 30+ research papers so
far and has more than 2 TB of picture data consisting of
images of Mars natural satellites-Phobos and Deimos,
Olympus Mountain and other craters and valleys.
Fig. 38: Noctis Labyrinyhus captured by
MOM

Did you know?

The Indian mission to Mars, Mangalyaan, cost less than the budget of the movie ‘Martian’

Chandrayaan I:
Chandrayaan I was India's first Moon mission. The mission had 11 payloads built by India, the
UK, the USA, Germany, Bulgaria and Sweden. Chandrayaan mission, launched on a PSLV
rocket on October 22, 2008 from Sriharikota, was designed to collect data about the topography
of the Moon. The spacecraft was orbiting around the Moon at the height of 100 km from the
lunar surface. It collected data on chemical, mineralogical and photo-geologic mapping of the
Moon. The data from Chandrayaan helped discover the presence of water on the Moon in
September 2009. Indian payloads include Terrain Mapping Camera in the panchromatic band
with 5m resolution and 40 km swath to prepare high-resolution atlas of moon and hyperspectral
images for mineralogical mapping, Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument for topographical
mapping, High Energy X-ray Spectrometer and Moon Impact Probe. The scientific payloads
of partner countries were also carried aboard. The Moon Impact Probe carrying the Indian
Flag, hard-landed on the Moon surface on November 14, 2009.

Space Technology: Chapter 3 – Applications of Satellites | 19

 Fig. 39: Lunar Terrain Mapping using TMC

Chandrayaan II:

The successor of Chandrayaan I, Chandrayaan II, was designed to explore the south pole of the
Moon. It consisted of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan. Launched
on July 22, 2019 using a GSLV from Sriharikota, Chandrayaan II aimed to study topography,
surface mineralogy and elemental abundances of the Moon specifically, examining the traces
of hydroxyl and water ice.

The Chandrayaan II orbiter is orbiting the Moon in a polar orbit at an altitude of 100 km, and
it carries eight scientific instruments. The instruments on the orbiter include Terrain Mapping
Camera (TMC-2), Chandrayaan II Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS), Solar X-ray
Monitor (XSM), Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC), Imaging Infrared Spectrometer
(IIRS), Dual Frequency L-band and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), Chandrayaan-
II Atmospheric Compositional Explorer 2 (ChACE-2) and Dual-Frequency Radio Science
Experiment.

The Vikram lander was India’s first

attempt to do a soft landing on the surface
of the Moon. If it were successful, we
would have been the fourth country to
achieve this feat. It was named after
Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of Indian
space program. Apart from the rover, the
Vikram lander contained three different
experiments, Radio Anatomy of Moon
Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and
Atmosphere (RAMBHA), Chandra's
Surface Thermophysical Experiment
(ChaSTE) and Instrument for Lunar Fig. 40: Chandrayaan II modules
Seismic Activity (ILSA).

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 The functioning of Chandrayaan II orbiter is almost similar
to Chandrayaan-1's orbiter with additional research
instruments. Chandrayaan II's designed lifetime is two years,
but it is now expected to last around 7.5 years after the
perfect launch. Orbiter payload includes experiments to
study high-resolution topographic mapping, determination
and three-dimensional mapping of water, hydroxyl, mineral
and elemental composition on the lunar surface, the study of
lunar exosphere & ionosphere, and observing the x-rays
emitted from the sun and its corona.

Fig. 41: Scientific Experiment of

Chandrayaan II Chandrayaan II has three different modules which have
different lifetimes. Rover Pragyan and lander Vikram were
expected to have a lifetime of 14 days after landing on the
Moon. The Orbiter was expected to be functional for approximately 7.5 years. All three
modules of Chandrayaan II have their own different role in helping humankind reach one step
closer to the Moon.
After four days of de-orbiting, during the first phase of landing from 30 km to 7.4 km, Vikram's
onboard computer decreased its descent speed as planned mission profile. In the second phase,
due to some software glitch, Vikram began to deviate from its landing trajectory and lost
contact with ISRO at around 2 km from the lunar surface.

Current Status:
Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is currently around the lunar orbit and providing excellent science data
resulting in several firsts. For example, the OHRC onboard Chandrayaan-2 provides the highest
ever resolution images of Moon.

ISRO’s future missions include AdityaL1 to study the Sun, Venus Mission, Mission to study
Exoplanets, Human Space Mission and Space recovery Module.

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