What is ISRO's HysIS ? How it is important for India know everything related to it.

 

ISRO is all set to launch PSLV-C43 carrying the ‘high-definition’ earth observation satellite HysIS and 30 co-passenger satellites from 8 different countries.

Highlights 

India’s workhorse PSLV-C43 will carry a hyperspectral imaging satellite HysIS and 30 co-passenger satellite from 8 different countries.While HysIS is the main payload to be placed in an orbit 636 km above the surface of the earth, the co-passenger satellites include one micro and 29 nano satellites which will be placed in a 504 km orbit.The co-passenger satellites are foreign satellites from United States of America (23 satellites), Australia, Canada, Columbia, Finland, Malaysia, Netherlands and Spain (one satellite each).

About HysIS 

HysIS is India’s first hyperspectral imaging satellite for advanced Earth observation.The PSLV-C43 rocket will place the HysIS satellite in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, 636 km above the surface of the earth.HysIS is an imaging satellite that will observe earth’s surface in 3 different ranges in the electromagnetic spectrum namely in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared 

HysIS will be able to see earth in 55 spectral or colour bands.HysIS will aid in getting images with high level of differentiation of the objects on earth.Thus adding a new dimension to earth observation satellites to optical images and radio images we generally get from satellite imagery.Thus HysIS enables us to do a ‘CATSCAN’ equivalent of Earth from space.

Application  

HysIS being an earth observation satellite that can see in 55 spectral or colour bands will be used for a range of applications like Monitoring agriculture, forestry.Assessment of coastal zones, inland waters, soil.Oil and minerals mapping and Military surveillance.

Hyperspectral imaging 

Hyperspectral imaging combines digital imaging and spectroscopy.It collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum.Thus it enables highly differentiated identification of objects, material or processes on the Earth.Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite or HySIS uses a critical chip called as ‘optical imaging detector array’.The ‘optical imaging detector array’, fitted in the hyperspectral imaging camera can provide better defined images that more clearly than regular optical or remote sensing cameras.