IRS - Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Series

The IRS satellite constellation series targets operational requirements of natural resource management. IRS satellites are believed to be the best in its class. IRS satellites acquire three different types of imagery applicable to diverse applications:

broad-area images at coarse spatial resolutions for regional overviews with frequent coverage;

urban-sized multi-spectral images for land cover mapping at moderate resolutions;

high-resolution Panchromatic Camera images for detailed feature extraction. The data in the panchromatic region is useful in geological studies for mapping geological and geomorphological features, for urban planning studies, detecting urban fringe growth, updating the urban transporation infrastructure etc. Stereoscopic image pair obtainable by PAN can be used for topographic studies and generation of digital terrain models.

IRS Satellites were designed to meet the need for high-resolution data over broad geographic areas for applications in urban planning and agriculture. Its spectral bandwidth spans the visible to the near infrared, allowing for general land-use classification and one-step integration into a GIS. IRS data can also be collected as stereo imagery. Some of the technology involved is the Linear Imaging Self-Scanner [LISS] and Wide Field Sensor (this sensor is useful for vegetation studies) and the Modular Optoelectronic Scanner (primarily meant for ocean related studies).

IRS-P6 ( RESOURCESAT)

IRS-P6 is the most advanced remote sensing satellite built by ISRO. IRS-P6 is intended to not only continue the remote sensing data services provided by IRS-1C and IRS-1D, both of which have far outlived their designed mission lives, but also vastly enhance the data quality. IRS-P6 carries three cameras similar to those of IRS-1C and IRS-1D but with vastly improved spatial resolutions, a high resolution Linear Imaging Self Scanner (LISS-4), a medium resolution LISS-3 and an Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWIFS). IRS-P6 also carries a Solid State Recorder with a capacity of 120 Giga Bits to store the images taken by its cameras which can be read out later to the ground stations.

	17 March 1988 IRS-1A was Launched by a Russian Vostok booster from Baikonur. Mass: 975 kg.
	29 August 1991 IRS-1B was Launched by a Russian Vostok booster from Baikonur. Mass: 980 kg.
	15 October 1994 IRS-P2 was Launched from Sriharikota using PSLV Mass: 870 kg.
	28 December 1995 IRS-1C was Launched by a Russian Molniya booster from Baikonur. Mass: 1250 kg.
	21 March 1996 IRS-P3 was Launched from Sriharikota using PSLV Mass: 930 kg.
	29 September 1997 IRS-1D was Launched from Sriharikota using PSLV Mass: 930 kg.
	26 May 1999 IRS-P4 (OceanSat 1) was Launched from Sriharikota using PSLV Mass: 1036 kg.
	17 October 2003 IRS-P6 (ResourceSat 1) was Launched from Sriharikota using PSLV-C5 Mass: 1360 kg.

	broad-area images at coarse spatial resolutions for regional overviews with frequent coverage;
	urban-sized multi-spectral images for land cover mapping at moderate resolutions;
	high-resolution Panchromatic Camera images for detailed feature extraction. The data in the panchromatic region is useful in geological studies for mapping geological and geomorphological features, for urban planning studies, detecting urban fringe growth, updating the urban transporation infrastructure etc. Stereoscopic image pair obtainable by PAN can be used for topographic studies and generation of digital terrain models.