Cartosat-1

Cartosat-1 carried two panchromatic cameras mounted to capture images of the same ground area from two different viewing angles simultaneously, producing along-track stereo image pairs. This stereo capability allowed for the extraction of accurate digital elevation models (DEMs) and 3D terrain data. It was the first Indian satellite specifically designed for stereo cartographic mapping.

Cartosat-1 was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on May 5, 2005, using a PSLV-C6 rocket from Sriharikota. It was placed into a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of approximately 618 kilometers. The satellite was the first in ISRO's Cartosat series of high-resolution mapping satellites.

Cartosat-1 provides panchromatic imagery at approximately 2.5-meter spatial resolution, which was among the highest resolutions available from a civilian Indian satellite at the time of its launch. The stereo pairs enable generation of digital elevation models with vertical accuracy suitable for large-scale topographic mapping. The swath width covers approximately 30 kilometers.

Cartosat-1 gave ISRO an independent national capability for large-scale topographic mapping and digital elevation model generation without relying on foreign satellite data. It laid the technical foundation for subsequent higher-resolution Cartosat missions, including Cartosat-2 and Cartosat-3. The data supported national mapping programs, urban planning, and disaster management applications.