HysIS is up there now: Isro does India proud again

Continuing its well established tradition of doing the country proud, today the Indian Space Research Organisation launched the PSLV-C43 rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This was the 45th PSLV mission and it placed 31 satellites into orbit successfully.

The advanced Earth observation satellite HysIS, which has full-fledged hyperspectral imaging abilities and a mission life of five years, will be used for a range of applications like agriculture, forestry, assessment of coastal zones, inland waters, soil and other geological environments – and also by the military for surveillance purpose.

HysIS had 30 co-passengers from 8 different countries. This brings the number of countries for which Isro has launched satellites for, up to 32. Its satellite launching facilities have evidently garnered international respect. But Isro still has a very small share of the global satellite launch market so the potential for growth is significant. The organization must leverage its stellar record to grow more.

Read: Isro puts HysIS, 30 foreign satellites into orbit

Earlier this month Isro launched the GSLV Mark-III, its heaviest rocket ever, to put into orbit the telecommunications satellite GSAT-29. Next year should see the much awaited Chandrayaan 2. Going even further ahead there is much excitement about its first manned space mission, expected to take wings by 2022. Several countries are increasing their investments in space, as concerns about Earth’s condition grow. Isro has to raise its game accordingly.