India is set to commemorate its inaugural National Space Day on August 23rd, a day that marks the triumphant landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the moon on August 23, 2023. This special day is a testament to India’s remarkable strides in space exploration and its commitment to harnessing space technology for the benefit of its citizens.
India’s space program has expanded significantly, with numerous satellites and launch vehicles being developed and launched indigenously. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), a science-for-services institution of the Indian government, plays a pivotal role in leveraging this technological advancement for national development. The MoES is responsible for monitoring and understanding the Earth’s five realms: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere, and their intricate interactions.
Through satellite observations, combined with data modeling and analysis, the MoES delivers essential services related to weather and climate, oceans and coasts, and earthquakes. These services contribute to expanding knowledge in polar sciences and deep oceans and facilitate ambitious programs like scientific deep drilling. The MoES’s data and services are crucial for effective and timely disaster management in India and neighboring Asian countries.
The contribution of India’s space program to the advancement of Earth system sciences and services is invaluable and continues to grow. The MoES has been utilizing satellite data for over six decades, and this dependence is becoming increasingly intricate. Satellite data is particularly crucial for upcoming missions aimed at expanding atmospheric and polar sciences.
Satellites provide the MoES and its institutes with vital data for the accurate monitoring, analysis, and prediction of natural phenomena. They also play a vital role in corroborating scientific findings, which is crucial for the nation’s safety, economic stability, and environmental health.
India’s focus is shifting from simply issuing warnings and alerts about natural disasters to incorporating strategies for both mitigation and adaptation. The MoES utilizes data from various global and Indian satellites, primarily through six of its institutes: the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
This data supports the monitoring and prediction of weather, climate, and ocean conditions, and facilitates the issuance of advisories, alerts, and warnings. For instance, advisories are disseminated on potential fishing zones, lost objects at sea, marine pollution (including algal blooms and oil spills), coastal erosion and shoreline changes, coastal biogeochemistry, and ecosystem monitoring (such as corals, mangroves, polar regions, and Himalayan glaciers). These services benefit numerous sectors, including agriculture, shipping, fisheries, and disaster management.
Satellites are indispensable for Earth observations, providing data to monitor and understand the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and surface. The MoES-funded GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in February 2024, aims to enhance India’s meteorological observations and services. In August 2024, ISRO launched the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle-D3 rocket, which will play a crucial role in monitoring natural disasters and environmental changes, supporting India’s climate studies and oceanographic research.
A significant vertical of India’s deep ocean mission, which aims to enhance ocean observation and climate change advisory services, will rely heavily on satellite data. Scientists at INCOIS will use this data to derive long-term projections of climate variables like sea level rise, cyclones, storm surges, and marine ecosystems, studying their impact on India’s coastal regions.
Monitoring polar ice and Himalayan glaciers through satellites will also be expanded as these factors are critical determinants of sea level rise and global climate cycles. Earth observation data can help improve the accuracy of prediction models for studying teleconnections between polar and tropical regions and facilitate real-time sea ice tracking for safer shipping and polar operations.
The MoES-ISRO collaboration ensures that India remains at the forefront of satellite technology, enabling the country to respond effectively to natural disasters and provide beneficial Earth science-related services. An Atmospheric and Space Research Facility is being developed in Odisha, a joint effort of the MoES, ISRO, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which will further enhance monsoon and thunderstorm predictions.
Discussions are underway to develop advanced GSAT-6 satellites with transponders, enabling faster two-way communication with tsunami buoys. India will soon launch the INSAT fourth-generation, RISAT-1B, and Oceansat-3A, equipped with a higher number and resolution of imagers and sensors. More wind profilers will be established for improved weather prediction, particularly of severe weather events, and existing sensors will be upgraded for more valuable advisories.
The ongoing focus on developing and launching satellites indigenously presents new opportunities for Indian institutions, including private players, to expand scientific understanding of Earth’s processes and address the global challenges of the 21st century. The ISRO-MoES collaboration is crucial in achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Incorporating more advanced satellite sensors, improving resolution (both temporal and spatial), and data processing capabilities, and real-time integration of satellite data with ground-based observations are key factors in achieving this vision.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of Indian satellites utilized for Earth science services:
*
INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) series:
Multipurpose geostationary satellites with advanced imaging and sounding sensors for meteorological observations. The MoES utilizes them for real-time monitoring of weather conditions, including temperature, humidity, and cloud cover, primarily for predicting cyclones, monsoons, rainfall, and storm formation.*
Oceansat series:
Multipurpose geostationary satellites for ocean observations. The MoES uses them for real-time monitoring of ocean conditions, including sea surface temperature and chlorophyll color.*
RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) series:
All-weather surveillance satellites for high-resolution radar images of the Earth’s surface. The MoES uses them for monitoring soil moisture and tracking floods and landslides.*
Cartosat series:
Remote sensing satellites for high-resolution, panchromatic and multispectral imaging of the Earth’s surface. The MoES utilizes them for monitoring and mapping land changes, including creating maps for inundation and shoreline changes.*
SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtiKa):
A collaborative mission between ISRO and the French space agency, CNES, carrying ARgos for data collection and ALtiKa (radar altimeter) to measure sea surface height. The MoES uses it for monitoring sea level rise, ocean circulation, and wave heights, particularly in predicting storm surges and tsunamis.*
SCATSAT-1:
Scatterometer satellite for ocean and weather research. The MoES uses it for monitoring and predicting cyclones and other extreme weather events, improving models for weather forecasting, and providing data for climate research, particularly wind vector data patterns (speed and direction) and ocean currents.The success of India’s space program is a testament to the country’s scientific prowess and its dedication to leveraging technology for the betterment of humanity. As India continues to advance in space exploration, its commitment to Earth observation will play a vital role in addressing global challenges and ensuring a sustainable future.
