Bhaskara Satellite series
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Bhaskara-I and II Satellites were two satellites built by the Indian space program that formed India's first low orbit Earth Observation Satellite.They collected data on telemetry, oceanography, hydrology.
[edit] Bhaskara-I
Bhaskara-I, weighing 444 kg at launch, was launched on June 7, 1979 from Kapustin Yar aboard the Intercosmos launch vehicle. It was placed in an orbital Perigee and Apogee of 394 km and 399 km at an inclination of 50.7°.[1] The satellite consisted of-
- Two television cameras operating in visible (0.6 micrometre) and near-infrared (0.8 micrometre) and collected data related to hydrology, forestry and geology.
- Satellite microwave radiometer (SAMIR) operating at 19 GHz and 22 GHz for study of ocean-state, water vapor, liquid water content in the atmosphere, etc.
The satellite provided ocean and land surface data. However, the cameras malfunctioned. Housekeeping telemetry was received until re-entry on 17 February 1989.
[edit] Bhaskara-II
Bhaskara II, weighing 436 kg, was launched on November 20, 1981 from Kapustin Yar. It was declared operational after receipt of 300 television images of the Indian sub-continent. The housekeeping telemetry was still being received until 1991. It re-entered orbit on 30 November 1991.It was placed in an orbital Perigee and Apogee of 368 km and 372 km at an inclination of 50.7°.[1]
