Orbit Raised, Irs-1d Beams Quality Pictures Orbit Crosses Lower

Indian remote sensing satellite IRS-1D, which was launched on September 29 by Indias Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota into a polar orbit with 820 km apogee and 300 km perigee, yesterday reached a lower orbit distance of 730 km. All the three cameras on board the IRS-ID have been switched on and the images beamed were of good quality, Isro said yesterday.

The three cameras the high-resolution panchromatic (Pan) camera, the multi-spectral linear imaging self-scanner (Liss-III) and the wide field sensor (WIFS) were tested by commanding from the spacecraft control centre of Isro Telemetry and Command Network (Istrac), Bangalore, an Isro release said.

The Pan camera was tested for the first time at 10.44 am on Wednesday, when the satellite was in its 120th orbit around the earth. The satellite was passing over Allahabad, Madurai and Tuticorin during the camera operation. The other two cameras were tested during the subsequent orbit at 12.33 pm when the satellite was passing over the Gulf countries.

All the three cameras were tested simultaneously yesterday. An analysis of the data, processed by National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, has confirmed that the cameras were performing well and the images were of good quality, the release said.