INDIAN REMOTE

SENSING PROGRAMME
AND APPLICATIONS
Introduction
• The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) program, initiated by the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO), entails a constellation of Earth observation satellites
deployed with the purpose of collecting diverse remote sensing data.
• This data serves multifaceted applications, including but not limited to monitoring
natural resources, tracking environmental shifts, facilitating urban planning,
coordinating disaster response efforts, and fostering agricultural progress across
India.
• Over the years, the IRS program has emerged as a pivotal instrument,
contributing significantly to the nation's endeavors in resource management,
environmental stewardship, and socio-economic development through informed
decision-making and strategic planning.
• India demonstrated the ability of remote sensing for societal application by detecting
coconut root-wilt disease from a helicopter mounted multispectral camera in 1970. This was
followed by flying two experimental satellites, Bhaskara-1 in 1979 and Bhaskara-2 in 1981.
These satellites carried optical and microwave payloads.
• India's remote sensing initiative, overseen by the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO), commenced in 1988 with the launch of IRS-1A. This pioneering satellite marked the
inception of a series of cutting-edge indigenous remote sensing satellites. Successfully
deployed into a polar sun-synchronous orbit on March 17, 1988, IRS-1A lifted off from the
Soviet Cosmodrome at Baikonur, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration
journey.
Related Terms
Indian Remote Sensing Satellites Series
• IRS-1 Series: The IRS-1 series was among the earliest remote sensing satellites in the
program. It included satellites like IRS-1A, IRS-1B, IRS-1C, and IRS-1D, which were equipped
with different sensors for applications such as agriculture, forestry, and natural resource
management.
• IRS-2 Series: The IRS-2 series, including IRS-2A and IRS-2B, continued to expand the
capabilities of the program with improved sensors and enhanced data quality for
applications like land use mapping and environmental monitoring.
• IRS-P Series: The IRS-P series focused on specific thematic applications, with satellites like
IRS-P2, IRS-P3, and IRS-P4 dedicated to areas such as oceanography, forestry, and
agriculture.
• Cartosat Series: The Cartosat series of satellites, including Cartosat-1, Cartosat-2, and
Cartosat-2B, are known for their high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imaging
capabilities. They are primarily used for cartography, urban planning, infrastructure
development, and defense applications.
• Resourcesat Series: The Resourcesat series, including Resourcesat-1 and Resourcesat-2, are
designed for resource monitoring and management. These satellites carry sensors for
multispectral and hyperspectral imaging.
• Oceansat Series: The Oceansat series, which includes Oceansat-1 and Oceansat-2, is
dedicated to ocean and atmospheric applications. They carry sensors for ocean color
monitoring and weather forecasting.
• RISAT Series: Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) series, with satellites like RISAT-1 and RISAT-2,
are equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for all-weather, day-and-night Earth
observation. These satellites are essential for applications like agriculture, forestry, and
disaster management.
• HySIS: Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite (HySIS) is designed for hyperspectral imaging,
enabling detailed spectral analysis of Earth’s surface for various applications, including
agriculture and environmental monitoring.
• INSAT/GSAT Series: While primarily communication satellites, some INSAT and GSAT
satellites also carry payloads for remote sensing purposes. They contribute to weather
monitoring, atmospheric studies, and disaster management through their meteorological
sensors.
• EOS Satellite: Earth Observation Satellite Series is the latest series for collecting information
about of Earth's physical, chemical and biological systems. It includes Microsat, GISAT,
RISAT,Oceansat
Timeline of Launches
S No. Satellite Date of Launch Launch Vehicle & Orbit Status Application
1 Bhaskara 1 Jun 07, 1979 C-1 Intercosmos, GSO Experimental Earth Observation
2 Rohini RS-D1 May 31, 1981 SLV-3D1; LEO Experimental Earth Observation
3 Bhaskara 2 Nov 20, 1981 C-1 Intercosmos, LEO Experimental Earth Observation
4 Rohini RS-D2 April 17, 1983 SLV-3, LEO Experimental Earth Observation
5 IRS-1A 17 March 1988 Vostok, USSR; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
6 IRS-1B 29 August 1991 Vostok, USSR; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
20 September Crashed, due to launch
7 IRS-P1 (also IE) PSLV-D1, LEO; SSPO Earth Observation
1993 failure of PSLV
8 IRS-P2 15 October 1994 PSLV-D2; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
28 December
9 IRS-1C Molniya, Russia; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
1995
10 IRS-P3 21 March 1996 PSLV-D3; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
29 September
11 IRS 1D PSLV-C1; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
1997
12 IRS-P4 (Oceansat-1) 27 May 1999 PSLV-C2; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
Technology
13 Experiment 22 October 2001 PSLV-C3; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
Satellite (TES)
14 IRS P6 (Resourcesat-1) 17 October 2003 PSLV-C5; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
15 IRS P5 (Cartosat 1) 5 May 2005 PSLV-C6; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
16 IRS P7 (Cartosat 2) 10 January 2007 PSLV-C7; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
17 Cartosat 2A 28 April 2008 PSLV-C9; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
18 IMS 1 (Prev. TWSat) 28 April 2008 PSLV-C9; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation, ocean and atmospheric studies,
microwave remote sensing
19 RISAT-2 20 April 2009 PSLV-C12; SSPO In Service Earth Observation and Disaster Management
20 Oceansat-2 23 September 2009 PSLV-C14; SSPO In Service Climate and Environment & Earth Observation
21 Cartosat-2B 12 July 2010 PSLV-C15; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
22 Resourcesat-2 20 April 2011 PSLV-C16; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
23 Megha-Tropiques 12 October 2011 PSLV-C18; SSPO Mission Completed Climate and Environment & Earth Observation: the
life cycle of convective systems that influence the
(Indo-French)
tropical weather and climate and their role in
associated energy and moisture budget of the
atmosphere in tropical regions.
24 RISAT-1 26 April 2012 PSLV-C19; SSPO Mission Completed Earth Observation
25 SARAL 25 February 2013 PSLV-C20; SSPO In Service Climate and Environment & Earth Observation:
altimetric measurements designed to study ocean
(Indo-French)
circulation and sea surface elevation.
26 INSAT-3D 26 July, 2013 Ariane-5 VA-214; Climate & Environment, Disaster Management
GSO System: Environmental and Storm warning System
27 Cartosat-2C 22 June 2016 PSLV-C34; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
28 INSAT-3DR 08 September 2016 GSLV-F05/INSAT- Climate & Environment, Disaster Management
3DR; GSO System
29 ScatSat-1 26 September 2016 PSLV-C35; SSPO In Service Earth Observation: weather forecasting, cyclone
prediction, and tracking services
30 RESOURCESAT-2A 07 December 2016 PSLV-C36; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
31 Cartosat-2D 15 February 2017 PSLV-C37; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
32 Crtosat-2E 23 June 2017 PSLV-C38; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
33 Cartosat-2F 12 January 2018 PSLV-C40; SSPO In Service Earth Observation
34 HysIS 29 November, 2018 PSLV-C43 /HysIS Earth Observation: HysIS is to study the earth’s
Mission; SSPO surface in the visible, near infrared and shortwave
infrared regions
35 RISAT-2B 22 May 2019 PSLV-C46; LEO In Service Disaster Management System , Earth
Observation; Indian radar reconnaissance satellite
36 Cartosat-3 27 November 2019 PSLV-C47; SSPO In Service Earth Observation: urban planning, rural resource
and infrastructure development, coastal land use
and land cover etc.
37 RISAT-2BR1 11 December 2019 PSLV-C48; LEO In Service Disaster Management System , Earth
Observation: Agriculture, Forestry
38 EOS-1 (RISAT-2BR2) 07 November 2020 PSLV-C49; LEO In Service Earth observation satellite: agriculture, forestry
and disaster management support.
39 EOS-3 (GISAT-1) 12 August 2021 GSLV-F10; GTO Crashed, due to First Agile Earth Observation satellite
launch failure of GSLV in Geostationary orbit
40 EOS-4 (RISAT-1A) 14 February 2022 PSLV-C52; SSPO In Service Radar Imaging Satellite for all weather conditions
: Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture
& Hydrology and Flood mapping.
41 EOS-2 (Microsat-2A) 7 August 2022 SSLV-D1 Crashed, due to Advanced optical remote sensing operating in
launch failure of SSLV infra-red band with high spatial resolution.
42 INDIA-BHUTAN SAT November 26, 2022
43 EOS-6 (Oceansat-3) 26 November 2022 PSLV-C54; SSPO In Service Ocean Observation
44 EOS-7 (Microsat-2B) 10 February 2023 SSLV-D2 In Service Earth Observation
 Adapted from: Prasad, Nupoor & Semwal, Manoj & Roy, Parth.
(2015). Remote Sensing and GIS for Biodiversity Conservation.
LISS-I : Linear Imaging self Scanner
WiFS: Wide Field Sensor
VHRR : Very High Resolution RadioMeter
AWiFS: Advanced Wide Field Sensor
National Natural Resource Management System (NNRMS)
• In 1983, the Department of Space, DOS, realized that to promote the wide use of the technology of
Remote Sensing it would be necessary to integrate the technology into the existing information systems
which were in day to day use by resource managers and planners.
• With this in view a major Programme called the National Natural resources Management System, NNRMS
was launched under the aegis of the Planning Commission.
• National Natural Resources Management System is an integrated natural resource management system of
India which aggregates the data about natural resources from the remote sensing satellites and other
conventional techniques.
NNRMS carries out the following tasks:
• Mapping of forests and grasslands.
• Monitoring of forest encroachment and shifting cultivation Forest fire surveillance.
• Mapping and monitoring of biosphere reserves.
• Eco-system management related studies for environmentally fragile/sensitive regions like the Himalayas,
Western Ghats etc.
• Development of Environment/Forest Resources Information System (ERIS/FRIS).
• Establishment of State Forest Data Management Centres (S17DMCs), with linkages to National System.
• Resources assessment of fuel wood.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) involving land, water and air pollution
• Environmental hazard related studies (landslide, volcano, earthquake).
• Mapping/monitoring of Coastal Regulation Zone/coastal areas, etc.
Applications

Environment Security &

Agriculture Urban Planning
Monitoring Defence

Disaster Cartography & Rural

Forestry
Management Mapping Development

Education & Weather

Water Resources Healthcare Forecasting
Research
THANK YOU

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