CARTOSAT-2
Encyclopedia
Cartosat-2 is an Earth observation satellite
in a sun-synchronous orbit
. The satellite was built, launched and maintained by the Indian Space Research Organisation
. Weighing around 680 kg at launch, its applications will mainly be towards cartography
in India. It was launched by the PSLV on January 10, 2007.
Cartosat-2 carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic
(PAN) camera that take black and white pictures of the earth in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum
. The swath covered by these high resolution PAN cameras is 9.6 km and their spatial resolution is less than 1 metre. The satellite can be steered up to 45 degrees along as well as across the track.
Cartosat-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery. The data from the satellite will be used for detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at cadastral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as applications in Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).
The first imagery, received on January 12, 2007, covered a length of 240 km from Paonta Sahib in Shivalik region to Delhi
.
Another set of imagery of about 50 km length covered Radha Nagari to Sagoan in Goa
. Analysis of the first imagery received at National Remote Sensing Agency's data reception station at Shadnagar, in Hyderabad, confirmed excellent performance of the on-board camera.
Cartosat-2 can produce images of up to 80 cm in resolution (black and white only), compared to the 80 cm offered by Ikonos
which is multispectral.
In the past, India has been buying images from Ikonos
at about $20 per square kilometre of imagery (where regional pricing was valid) otherwise the price is $7.70 per square kilometer.
With Cartosat-2 offering better resolution at twenty times lower cost per sq m of imagery, buying images from Ikonos is likely to decline in future.
Currently, India buys images worth about Rupees 2 crore a year from Ikonos
.
Earth observation satellite
Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar to reconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc....
in a sun-synchronous orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit
A Sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit ascends or descends over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local mean solar time. The surface illumination angle will be nearly the same every time...
. The satellite was built, launched and maintained by the Indian Space Research Organisation
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
. Weighing around 680 kg at launch, its applications will mainly be towards cartography
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
in India. It was launched by the PSLV on January 10, 2007.
Cartosat-2 carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic
Panchromatic
Panchromatic film is a type of black-and-white photographic film that is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light. A panchromatic film therefore produces a realistic reproduction of a scene as it appears to the human eye. Almost all modern photographic film is panchromatic, but some types are...
(PAN) camera that take black and white pictures of the earth in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object is the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object....
. The swath covered by these high resolution PAN cameras is 9.6 km and their spatial resolution is less than 1 metre. The satellite can be steered up to 45 degrees along as well as across the track.
Cartosat-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery. The data from the satellite will be used for detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at cadastral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as applications in Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).
The first imagery, received on January 12, 2007, covered a length of 240 km from Paonta Sahib in Shivalik region to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
Another set of imagery of about 50 km length covered Radha Nagari to Sagoan in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. Analysis of the first imagery received at National Remote Sensing Agency's data reception station at Shadnagar, in Hyderabad, confirmed excellent performance of the on-board camera.
Cartosat-2 can produce images of up to 80 cm in resolution (black and white only), compared to the 80 cm offered by Ikonos
IKONOS
IKONOS is a commercial earth observation satellite, and was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1- and 4-meter resolution. It offers multispectral and panchromatic imagery. The IKONOS launch was called by John E. Pike “one of the most significant developments in...
which is multispectral.
In the past, India has been buying images from Ikonos
IKONOS
IKONOS is a commercial earth observation satellite, and was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1- and 4-meter resolution. It offers multispectral and panchromatic imagery. The IKONOS launch was called by John E. Pike “one of the most significant developments in...
at about $20 per square kilometre of imagery (where regional pricing was valid) otherwise the price is $7.70 per square kilometer.
With Cartosat-2 offering better resolution at twenty times lower cost per sq m of imagery, buying images from Ikonos is likely to decline in future.
Currently, India buys images worth about Rupees 2 crore a year from Ikonos
IKONOS
IKONOS is a commercial earth observation satellite, and was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1- and 4-meter resolution. It offers multispectral and panchromatic imagery. The IKONOS launch was called by John E. Pike “one of the most significant developments in...
.
See also
- Cartosat-1CARTOSAT-1Cartosat-1 is a stereoscopic Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite was built, launched and maintained by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Weighing around 1560 kg at launch, its applications will mainly be towards cartography in India. It was launched by...
- Cartosat-2ACartosat-2ACartosat-2A is an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite is the thirteenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series to be built, launched and maintained by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
- Cartosat-2BCartosat-2BCARTOSAT 2B is an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite is the seventeenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series to be built by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
- Cartosat-3CARTOSAT-3Cartosat-3 is the latest satellite of the Cartosat series of satellites from ISRO, the current generation of Indian remote sensing satellites, which are intended to replace the IRS series. Cartosat-1 has a resolution of 2.5 m with stereo imaging capability...
- List of Indian satellites