India to launch satellite for third world in 2007-08

Bangalore, Mar 14: A remote sensing microsatellite for use by third world countries, TWSAT, is likely to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2007-08 through Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C9).

The satellite, weighing approximately 90 kg, would provide remote sensing data to third world countries and ride piggy back along with Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), a microwave remote sensing satellite, according to ISRO's annual report for 2005-06 released today.

ISRO said the payload would have a four band CCD camera with a 35 metre spatial resolution and 149 km swath supporting generation of both natural colour composite and false colour composite data products.

User terminals to receive data from TWSAT would be set up in some Indian universities and select third world countries. The satellite would help evolve a standard microsatellite bus configuration, which could incorporate various types of payloads. Out of the total weight of the satellite, the payload would weigh 20 kg. The satellite could carry not only cameras, but other payloads also, it said.

UNI