Satellite
The Saral Satellite is composed of:
- a spacecraft bus IMS-2 (Small Satellite Bus). This platform, developed by the Indian space agency ISRO, is designed for satellites in the range of about 500 kg at launch.
- a payload developed by CNES composed of the following instruments:
- an altimeter-radiometer Altika (CNES contribution),
- a DORIS system for precise orbit determination (CNES contribution),
- an LRA (Laser Retro-reflector Array) instrument used for precise calibration of other POD instruments, through analysis of laser shots from the ground then reflected by the LRA mirrors (CNES contribution),
- the ARGOS-3 instrument
Mass | 400 kg platform: 245 kg payload module: 165 kg |
Total power | 570 W platform: ~205 W payload: <250 W |
Size | 1 m x 1 m x 2.6 m solar panels: 1.2 m x 1.46 m (2x) |
Data rate S-band | 64 kbits/s for telemetry, 4 kbits/s for telecommand |
Mission lifetime | 5 years for ARGOS 3 years for AltiKa |
The PIM stored in Thalès (TAS) on the occasion of the mission group meeting in February 2012.
The satellite has been put into orbit by a PSLV vehicle supplied by ISRO, and launched from the main ISRO launch base, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR SRIHARIKOTA (13°43.2N; 80°13.8E), 100 km North from Chennai.