IRS-1C


IRS-1C was the fourth remote sensing Indian satellite built, and designed by Indian Space Research Organization. IRS-1C is first second-generation operational Remote Sensing Satellite. The satellite carries payloads with enhanced capabilities like better spatial resolution additional spectral bands, improved repetitivity and augment the remote sensing capability of the existing IRS-1A and IRS-1B.

Objective

The primary objective of IRS-1C was to provide systematic and repetitive acquisition of data of the Earth's surface under nearly constant illumination conditions.

Spacecraft

IRS 1-C was the fourth of the Indian natural resource imaging satellites and was launched by a Molniya-M rocket from the Baykonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft carried three instruments. Images from regions other than India will be downlinked and distributed through a commercial entity in the United States.
IRS-1C used S-band for broadcasting and X-band for uplinking of data. The satellite was equipped with onboard tape recorder with storage capacity of 62 Gbits.

Payloads

IRS-1C was equipped with three sensors:
The images was marketed through a private company in the United States. The data transmitted from the satellite was gathered from National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad and EOSAT, a partnership of Hughes Aircraft and RCA.
IRS-1C completed its services on 21 September 2007 after serving for 11 years and 8 months.