The document discusses different types of satellites used for remote sensing including earth resource satellites, Landsat series satellites, SPOT satellites, Indian remote sensing satellites, IKONOS, meteorological/weather satellites like NOAA and GOES, and Indian national satellites like INSAT. It provides details on the sensors, spectral and spatial resolution, swath width, orbital altitude, and launch period of these various satellite systems used for monitoring earth's resources, weather, environment and climate.

1. Types of Satellites
Principles of Remote Sensing and GIS

2. Earth Resource Satellites
 Earth resource satellites have the mission to monitor Earth's oceans, ice caps,
and coastal regions etc. They provide systematic, repetitive global
measurements of wind speed and direction, wave height, surface temperature,
surface altitude, cloud cover, and atmospheric water vapor level etc.

3. LANDSAT Series of Satellites
NASA, with the co-operation of the U.S. Department of Interior, began a conceptual study of the feasibility
of a series of Earth Resources Technology Satellites (ERTS). ERTS-1 was launched on July 23, 1972. It
represented the first unmanned satellite specifically designed to acquire data about earth resources on a
systematic, repetitive, medium resolution, multispectral basis. It was primarily designed as an experimental
system to test that feasibility of collecting earth resources data from unmanned satellites. Just prior to the
launch of ERTS-B on January 22nd 1975, NASA officially renamed the ERTS programme as "LANDSAT"
programme. All subsequent satellites in the series carried the Landsat designation. So far five Landsat
satellites have been launched successfully, Table highlights the characteristics of the Landsat series satellites
mission. There have been four different types of sensors included in various combinations on these
missions.

4. LANDSAT Series of Satellites
Name Spectral
resolution
(Band)
Spatial
resolution
Scan Width Time interval Orbital
Altitude
Operational Period
MSS 4(0.5-0.6) 79x79 185 18 918 Landsat 1
23/7/1992- 6/1/1978
Landsat 2
22/1/1975-25/2/1982
Landsat 3
5/3/1978-30/11/1982
5(0.6-0.7) 79x79
6(0.7-0.8) 79x79
7 (0.8-1.1) 79x79
TM B1 0.45-0.52 30x30 185 16 710 Landsat 4
16/7/1982-02/1983
Landsat 5
1/3/1984
B2 0.52-0.60 30x30
B3 0.63-0.69 30x30
B4 0.76-0.90 30x30
B5 1.55-1.75 30x30
B6 10.4-12.5 120x120
B7 2.08-2.35 30x30

5. SystemPourd'Observationde laTerra(SPOT)
 French Government in joint programme with Sweden and Belgium undertook the development of
Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) program. Conceived and designed by the French Centre
National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
 SPOT-1 was retired from full-time services on December 31, 1990. The SPOT-2 satellite was launched
on January 21, 1990, and SPOT-3 was launched on September 25, 1993 Spot 4 was launched on 26
March 1998. SPOT-1, -2 and-3 have identical orbits and sensor systems,

6. SystemPourd'Observationde la Terra(SPOT)
SPOT XS 1 (0.50-0.59) 20m 60 (oblique
scene at max 60
by 81)
26 days 822 1986
XS 2 (0.61-0.68) 20m 60 (oblique
scene at max 60
by 81)
26 days 822 1998
XS 3 (0.79-0.89) 20m 60 (oblique
scene at max 60
by 81)
26 days 822 1990
XS 4 (1.58-1.75) 20m 60 (oblique
scene at max 60
by 81)
26 days 822 1998
Monospectral red (0.61-
0.68)
10m 60 (oblique
scene at max 60
by 81)
26 days 822 2002
Satellite/
Sensor
Bands and wavelength
(µm)
Spatial
Resolution
Swath width (Km) Repeat
coverage
Orbit
altitude
(km)
Lunching Period

7. INDIAN REMOTE SENSING
The Indian Space programmed has the goal of harnessing space technology for application in
the areas of communications, broadcasting, meteorology and remote sensing. The important milestones
crossed so far are Bhaskara-1 and 2 (1979) the experimental satellites, which carried TV Cameras and
Microwave Radiometers. The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite was the next logical step towards the
National operational satellites that directly generates resources information in a variety of application
areas such as forestry, geology, agriculture and hydrology. IRS -1A/1B, carried Linear Self Scanning
sensors LISS-I & LISS-II. IRS-P2 launched in October 1994 on PSLV-D2 (an indigenous launch
vehicle). IRS-1C, launched on December 28, 1995, which carried improved sensors like LISS-III,
WiFS, PAN Camera, etc. Details of IRS series platforms are given in the following section. IRS-P3 was
launched into the sun synchronous orbit by another indigenous launch vehicle PSLV - D3 on 21.3.1996
from Indian launching station Sriharikota (SHAR). IRS-1D was launched on 29 September 1997 and
IRS-P4 was launched on 26 May 1999.

8. Name Launch Sensors Types No. Of
bands
Spectral
range
Resolution Swath Revisit
Days
IRS-1A 1988 Liss-I MS 4 72.5 148 22
Liss-II MS 4 36.25 36.25
IRS-1B 1991 Liss-I MS 4 450-520 72.5 148 22
0.52-0.59
0.62-0.68
0.77-0.86
(NIR)
IRS-1C 1995 Wifs MS 2 0.62-0.68 189 810 5
24-25
0.77-0.86
Liss-III MS 3 0.52-0.59 23.6 142
148
0.62-0.68
0.77-0.86
1 1.55-1.70
Pan Pan 1 5.8 70
INDIAN REMOTE SENSING

9. INDIAN REMOTE SENSING
Name Launch Sensors Types No. Of
bands
Spectral
range
Resolution Swath
(km)
Revisit
DAYS
IRS -1D September
- 1997
Wifs MS 2 0.62-0.68 189 774 5
0.77-0.86
Liss-III MS 3 0.52-0.59 23 142 24-25
0.62-0.68
0.77-0.86
1 1.55-1.70
Pan MS 1 6 70
IRS-P4 May-1999 OCM MS 8 0.4-0.88 360 1420 2
MSMR RADAR 4 6.6,10.65,1
8,21,GHz
180,80,40,
& 40km
1360

10. IKONOS
The IKONOS-2 satellite was launched in September 1999 and has been delivering
commercial data since early 2000. IKONOS is the first of the next generation of high spatial
resolution satellites. IKONOS data records 4 channels of multispectral data at 4-meter
resolution and one panchromatic channel with 1-meter resolution. This means that
IKONOS is first commercial satellite to deliver near photographic quality imagery of
anywhere in the world from space

11. Name Launch Sensors Types No. Of
bands
Spectral
range
Resolution Swath
(km)
Revisit
DAYS
IKONOS 2 24
sept.1999
Ikonos MS 4 0.42-0.52 4 11
0.52-0.60
0.63-069
0.76-0.90
Pan 1 1
IKONOS

12. Metrological Satellites
(Weather Satellites)
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor
the weather and climate of the Earth. Metrological Satellites are of two types –
 1) Polar orbiting and
 2) Geostationary .
1. Polar orbiting satellites pass approximately over the poles at height of about
850kms the whole surface of the earth is observed by these satellites. Which
follow the orbit nearly fixed in place. Ex. NOAA, IRS, Oceansat-1.
2. Geostationary satellites orbit around the world over the equator at height
36000kms. They complete 1 orbit in 24 hours synchronize with earth rotation
about it’s own axis. thus they remain over the same location on the equator.
Ex. GOES, INSAT, METOSAT.

13. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Satellites have the following metrological payloads.
1. Advance Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
AVHRR data are acquired with a wide-field scanning system that enables global coverage on a daily basis
with a ground resolution of 1.1 km at nadir point (directly beneath the satellite). The sensor also provides a
data stream of nominal 4-km resolution that is achieved by sampling and averaging the full resolution 1.1-km
data on-board the satellite
2. TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS)
TOVS incorporates a high resolution infrared radiation sounder. In this the atmospheric radiation in 20 IR
channel and is primarily use to obtain the vertical temperature and moisture distribution in the troposphere.
3. Earths Radiation Budget (ERB)
The atmospheric motion is driven by differential absorption of solar radiation and infrared loss to space the
study of Earths Radiation Budjet.

14. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Satellite
Sensor
Bands and wavelength
(µm)
Spatial
Resolution
Swath
width
Repeat
coverage
Orbit
altitude
(km)
NOAA 1 (0.58-0.68) 1.1 km 2399 Daily 833
2 (0.725-1.10) 1.1 km 2399 Daily 833
3 (3.55-3.93) 1.1 km 2399 Daily 833
4 (10.3-11.3) 1.1 km 2399 Daily 833
5 (11.5-12.5) 1.1 km 2399 Daily 833

15. GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite)
 The GOES is design by NASA. Two GOES satellites, placed in
geostationary orbits 36000 km above the equator, each view approximately
one-third of the Earth. One is situated at 75°W longitude and monitors North
and South America and most of the Atlantic Ocean. The other is situated at
135°W longitude and monitors North America and the Pacific Ocean basin.
Together they cover from 20°W to 165°E longitude.
 Two generations of GOES satellites have been launched, each measuring
emitted and reflected radiation from which atmospheric temperature, winds,
moisture, and cloud cover can be derived. The first generation of satellites
consisted of GOES-1 (launched 1975) through GOES-7 (launched 1992).
Due to their design, these satellites were capable of viewing the Earth only a
small percentage of the time (approximately five per cent). The second
generation of satellites began with GOES-8 (launched 1994) and has
numerous technological improvements over the first series.

16. Visible Light Image Water Vapour Image

17. The Indian National Satellites (INSAT)
INSAT is a series of multi-purpose geo-stationary satellites launched by ISRO (Indian
Space Research Organisation) to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology
and search and rescue operations.
These satellites have the Very High resolution Radiometer (VHRR), CCD Cameras for
metrological imaging.
INSAT is the joint venture of the Department of Space, Department of
Telecommunications, India Meteorological Department, All India Radio and
Doordarshan.
INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in Asia Pacific Region.

18. The Indian National Satellites (INSAT)
1. INSAT-2E
2. INSAT-3A
3. INSAT-3C
4. INSAT-3D
5. INSAT-4A
6. INSAT-4B
7. INSAT-4CR
8. GSAT-8 / INSAT-4G
9. GSAT-12
10. GSAT-10
11. GSAT-16

19. INSAT – 2E INSAT - 3A
Launched in April 1999,
positioned at 83 degree east
longitude. It carries payloads
include 17 C-Band and lower
extended C-Band
transponders.
Some of them are:
Launched in April 2003,
positioned at 93.5 degree east
longitude. It carries payloads
include 12 C-Band transponders,
6 lower extended C-Band
transponders and 6 Ku
transponders.
Satellites in Service (Cont..)

20. INSAT – 3D
Launched in Jan. 2002, positioned
at 74 degree east longitude. It
carries payloads include 24 normal
C-band transponders, 6 extended
C-Band transponders and 2 S-
band transponders.
Launched in July 2013,
positioned at 82 degree east
longitude. It carries payloads
include imager, sounder, data
relay transponder and research
and rescue transponder.
INSAT – 3C

21. INSAT – 3E
Launched in Sept. 2003,
positioned at 55 degree east
longitude. It carries payloads
include 24 normal C-band
transponders and12 extended C-
Band transponders.
It is an exclusive meteorological
satellite launched by PSLV in
Sept. 2002. It carries VHRR and
DRT payloads to provide
meteorological services. It is
located at 74 degree East
longitude.
KALPANA – 1

22. INSAT System
 INSAT system ushered in a
revolution in India’s television
and radio broadcasting,
telecommunications and
metrological sectors.
 The first successfully launched
INSAT is INSAT-1B in august
1983.
 These satellites are monitored
and master control facilities that
exist in Hassan and Bhopal.
INSAT-1B

23. Kalpana-1
 MetSat-1 is ISRO's first dedicated GEO Weather satellite project
built by ISRO
 Feb.6,2003, the MetSat-1 satellite of ISRO was renamed to
Kalpana-1
 meteorological services had been combined with telecommunication
and television services in the INSAT series

24. Yours Manish.s.k