ISRO set to launch GISAT-1 satellite on board GSLV-F10 rocket; know scheduled date and time here

After a number of hiccups that postponed its launch by an year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the new state-of-the-art geo imaging satellite GISAT-1 on board Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV-F10) rocket next week. The satellite will boost India's capabilities enormously in many spheres. Here is how an ISRO official described the importance of the GISAT-1 satellite, "It's going to be a game-changer in some sense for India," a Department of Space official said. The The GISAT-1 weighs in at 2,268-kg. Here are 5 top questions about the GISAT-1 satellite that you wanted to know:

1. What benefits/objectives will GISAT-1 satellite bring?

There are three major ones: Firstly, the high resolution cameras on the satellite will allow the country to continuously, in real-time, monitor the Indian land mass and the oceans, with particular attention given to its borders, under cloud-free conditions. Secondly, it would help in quick monitoring of natural disasters. Thirdly, it will obtain spectral signatures of agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster warning, and oceanography.

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2. What is the time and date of GISAT-1 satellite launch?

The launch date is August 12. An ISRO official said, "We have tentatively planned the GSLV-F10 launch on August 12, at 05.43 am, subject to weather conditions".

3. What will be the orbit of GISAT-1 satellite?

GISAT-1 will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10 and, subsequently, it will be positioned in the final geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above earth's equator. Experts said that positioning of the agile earth observation satellite in geostationary orbit has certain key advantages.

4. Why was GISAT-1 schedule derailed multiple times?

GISAT-1 will only be the second launch by ISRO in the COVID-19-hit 2021. ISRO successfully launched PSLV-C51 mission on February 28 with Brazil's earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 others.

GISAT-1 was initially slated to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, about 100 kms north of Chennai, on March 5, 2021, but it was scrapped just a day before the blast-off due to a glitch. Thereafter, it ran into delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic that prevented employees from coming to office. The new launch date announced then was March 28, 2021, but again a problem with the satellite forced the launch to be scrapped. Dates were set for April and May launches, but these too passed without success. It is now hoped that this will be the final time ISRO has to set a date for the lift-off.