Context

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has deployed its sub-metre resolution optical satellite, TSAT-1A, into space. 

SpaceX Bandwagon 1 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)

• It is SpaceX’s first dedicated rideshare mission launched into a mid-inclination orbit.
• Other Mission: Alongside TSAT-1A, the Bandwagon-1 mission had 11 other spacecraft.
  • These are  Korea’s 425Sat, HawkEye 360’s Clusters 8 & 9, Tyvak International’s CENTAURI-6, iQPS’s QPS-SAR-7 TSUKUYOMI-II, and Capella Space’s Capella-14.

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About TSAT-1A

• TSAT-1A is a sub-metre resolution optical satellite.
• Developed by: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in collaboration with Satellogic. 
• It has been  successfully deployed into space by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket  as part of the Bandwagon-1 mission.  
  • It was launched from Kennedy Space centre, Florida.
  • It was assembled at TASL’s Assembly, Integration, and Testing plant located at its Vemagal facility in Karnataka, India.

• Features

  • The satellite offers 
    • High-Resolution Optical Images
    • Sub-meter resolution for capturing detailed imagery of Earth’s surface.
    • Enhanced collection capacity for gathering more data.
    • Wider dynamic range for capturing details in both bright and dark areas.
    • Low-latency delivery for faster access to captured images.
  • TSAT-1A has multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities. 
    • It is helpful in enhancing its earth observation functionalities.
      • Its remote sensing offers information about minerals or vegetation of the surfaces on the Earth. 
  • TSAT-1A Specifications:
    • Weight and Orbit: It weighs less than 50 kg and  is positioned in a low-earth orbit.
    • Inclined Orbit Benefits: Its inclined orbit configuration enables more frequent revisits to specific areas compared to the Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).

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Applications of TSAT-1A