Satellite & Cable

October 16, 2002
Meteorological instrument of METSAT switched on

Special Correspondent

The very-high resolution radiometer (VHRR) on board India's first exclusive meteorological satellite, METSAT, was successfully switched on from Master Control Facility, Hassan at 12:45 hours of September 19, 2002. The earth image in the visible spectral band was taken in full-frame mode, covers the full earth disc and the adjoining deep space.

The earth imaging in water vapour and infrared spectral bands were commanded at 08:15 and 09:00 hours respectively on September 20. The images taken in the visible, water vapour and thermal infrared spectral bands received at the Master Control Facility, Hassan are of excellent quality.

The VHRR on board METSAT has the capability to take images of earth in three spectral bands, -- visible, water vapour and thermal infrared. The pictures provide a spatial resolution of 2 km x 2 km in Visible band and 8 km x 8 km in Water Vapour and thermal Infra-red bands.

In addition to VHRR, the METSAT carries a data relay transponder (DRT) configured to collect local meteorological information from unattended data collection platforms and relay them to the Meteorological Data Utilization Center at New Delhi.

It may be recalled that METSAT was launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C4, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, SHAR on September 12, 2002. Following the successful launch, orbit-raising maneuvers were conducted and the spacecraft was placed in the near geosynchronous orbit (GSO). It is now moving toward its intended orbital slot of 74o East longitude as per plans. The three-axis stabilization of the spacecraft was carried out on September 16. The drift arresting maneuvers were started from MCF, Hassan. The spacecraft was scheduled to be positioned in its designated orbital slot of 74o East on September 24, 2002.

A detailed in-orbit testing (IOT) of the payload started from September 23. The operational meteorological services from METSAT are expected to commence from the first week of October 2002.