description IRS-1A Overview
IRS-1A was India's first indigenous remote sensing satellite, launched on March 17, 1988 from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soviet Vostok rocket. Built by ISRO, it operated in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at approximately 900 km altitude. The satellite carried two Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensors (LISS-I and LISS-II) providing multispectral imagery for natural resource management and land-use mapping. It remained operational for over eight years, well beyond its three-year design life.
insights Ranking position
IRS-1A ranks #70 of 187 in the Satellite ranking, behind OCO-3, ahead of SMOS.
help IRS-1A FAQ
When was India's IRS-1A satellite launched?
IRS-1A was successfully launched on March 17, 1988, marking a major milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was the very first satellite in India's indigenous remote sensing program.
What rocket was used to launch IRS-1A?
Because India's own launch capabilities were still developing, IRS-1A was launched aboard a Soviet Vostok rocket. This international cooperation allowed India to place its first remote sensing satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit.
What kind of data did IRS-1A provide?
IRS-1A was equipped with Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensors (LISS) that provided multispectral imagery of the Earth. This data was extensively used for natural resource management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring across India.
How long did the IRS-1A mission operate?
IRS-1A operated successfully for nearly a decade, well exceeding its initial design life. It laid the foundation for India's highly successful Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite constellation used today.
explore Explore More
Similar to IRS-1A
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
