ISRO Plans for 2020-21 | 17 Feb 2020

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released its annual report for 2019-20 recently.

ISRO has been allocated with the budget of ₹13,480 crores for 2020-21.
Currently, India has 19 national Earth Observation (EO) satellites, 18 communication satellites and 8 navigation satellites in service.
- These are used for broadcasting, telephony, Internet services, weather, agriculture-related forecasting, security, disaster-time rescue and relief and location-based services.
- Three of the communication satellites are dedicated to military communication and networking.

The report states an annual plan of 36 missions (including both satellites and their launchers) including the launch of 10 Earth Observation (EO) satellites.
The upcoming EO satellites include radar imaging satellites RISAT-2BR2, RISAT- 1A and 2A; Oceansat-3, GISAT-1 and Resourcesat-3/3S.
ISRO plans to launch Chandrayan-3, Gaganyan in the year of 2020-21.
ISRO also plans to launch a new series of high-resolution HRSATs through Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launcher.
ISRO is expected to develop its own space station within a decade.

RISAT-2BR2

The RISAT-2BR2 will form a triad with RISAT-2B and RISAT-2B1 covering around 120 degrees apart.
It will increase the frequency of observation in the required areas to provide all-weather, day/night imaging services from space.
The RISAT satellites carry a synthetic aperture radar on them, providing all-weather, 24-hour information to security agencies.

GISAT-1

GISAT-1 (Geo Imaging Satellite) will be placed in a geostationary orbit of around 36,000 km.
- All Indian EOs satellites have been placed so far in a 600-odd-km orbits and circle the earth pole to pole.
It will apparently be in a fixed spot looking over the Indian continent at all times.
It will have high-resolution cameras which will help to monitor any changes in borders and the overall geographical condition of the country, etc.