Bhaskara (satellite)

1984 USSR stamp featuring Bhaskara-I, Bhaskara-II and Aryabhata satellites

The Bhaskara-I and II Satellites were two satellites built by the Indian Space Research Organisation that formed India's first low orbitEarth Observation Satellite. They collected data on telemetry, oceanography and hydrology.

Bhaskara-IEdit

Bhaskara-IMission typeExperimental Remote Sensing
Earth Obsservation SatelliteMission duration10 years (Re-Entered in 1989)^[1]Spacecraft propertiesSpacecraft typeUnmannedManufacturer ISROLaunch mass444 kilograms (979 lb)Power47 wattsStart of missionLaunch date7 June 1979 ISTRocketC-1 Intercosmos Launch VehicleLaunch siteKapustin Yar

Bhaskara-I, weighing 444 kg at launch, was launched on 7 June 1979 from Kapustin Yaraboard the Intercosmos launch vehicle. It was placed in an orbital Perigee and Apogee of 394 km and 399 km at an inclination of 50.7°.^[2] The satellite consisted of-

Two television cameras operating in visible (600 nanometre) and near-infrared (800 nanometre) and collected data related tohydrology, forestry and geology.Satellite microwave radiometer (SAMIR) operating at 19 and 22 GHz for study of ocean-state, water vapour, liquid water content in the atmosphere, etc.

Bhaskara-IIEdit

Bhaskara-IIMission typeExperimental Remote Sensing
Earth Obsservation SatelliteMission duration10 years (Re-Entered in 1991)Spacecraft propertiesSpacecraft typeUnmannedManufacturerISROLaunch mass444 kilograms (979 lb)Power47 wattsStart of missionLaunch date20 November 1981 ISTRocketC-1 Intercosmos Launch VehicleLaunch siteVolgograd Launch Station

The satellite provided ocean and land surface data. It orbited at 541 x 557 km with inclination of 50.7°. One of two onboard cameras malfunctioned, however it sent back more than two thousand images. Housekeeping telemetry was received until re-entry in 1991.