Girish Linganna
Apr 10: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a prominent Indian aerospace and defense solutions company, and Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), a leader in collecting highly detailed Earth Observation (EO) data, have announced the successful deployment of TASL's ,TSAT-1A satellite into space. The satellite, which has the capability to capture Earth images with sub-meter resolution, was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, at 23:16 UTC on April 7, 2024.
TSAT-1A was constructed at TASL's ,Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility in Vemagal, near to Bangalore, in Karnataka. This milestone comes after TASL and Satellogic joined forces in November 2023 to combine their knowledge and skills. Satellogic provided expertise to develop and integrate an advanced Earth Observation (EO) satellite in India , while TASL contributed its capability to undertake complex system integration.
"High-Resolution Insights"
"Earth images with sub-meter resolution" means that the satellite is capable of capturing highly detailed pictures of the Earth's surface, where each pixel in the image represents an area smaller than one square meter. This level of resolution allows for the identification of small objects and the observation of fine details on the ground, providing valuable information for various applications such as mapping, monitoring infrastructure, tracking changes in land use, and studying the environment.
Private-Sector Breakthrough
Sukaran Singh, the CEO and Managing Director, informed the media that Satellogic played a crucial role in sharing industry knowledge, providing essential components, licensing intellectual property (IP), and assisting in the establishment of an AIT facility in India. These contributions were part of Satellogic's Space Systems offering, which aimed to facilitate direct satellite sales and support their customers in the construction process.
Singh, in his conversation with TOI, mentioned, that while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched high-resolution earth observation satellites in the government sector, TSAT-1A marks the first sub-meter high-resolution earth observation satellite developed by the private sector in India. The satellite has a inherent resolution of approximately 0.7-0.8 meters, which can be further enhanced to a super resolution of 0.5 to 0.6 meters using software. TSAT-1A operates in a low-earth orbit and has a weight of less than 50 kg.
Singh also emphasized that this achievement marks only the beginning. The collaboration with Satellogic has allowed them to successfully develop and test an advanced sub-meter optical satellite in India. He expressed gratitude for the support received from different Indian government authorities in obtaining the necessary permissions for the project.
Regarding the usage of satellite data, the CEO of TASL clarified that their primary customers would primarily be government agencies, including the armed forces. Additionally, they will also focus on targeting commercial customers for their satellite services.
Singh highlighted the significance of TSAT-1A being launched into an inclined orbit, deviating from the conventional Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO). This choice of inclined orbit brings several advantages specifically tailored to India's areas of interest. By adopting an inclined orbit, TSAT-1A can make more frequent and diverse passes over these regions compared to the SSPO. This results in improved coverage and greater opportunities for data and image collection. In essence, an inclined orbit enhances the monitoring and observation capabilities of specific areas, benefiting applications such as surveillance, mapping, and environmental monitoring. Singh also expressed TASL's enthusiasm for future collaborations with ISRO for launch services.
A Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) is typically around 600-800 kilometers (370-500 miles) above the Earth's surface. In simple terms, it means that the satellite travels from the North Pole to the South Pole while maintaining a fixed angle relative to the Sun. This orbit ensures that the satellite passes over any given point on Earth at the same local time each day, providing consistent lighting conditions for Earth observation and monitoring purposes.
Tata is focusing on four key areas in their space facilities. These areas include the assembly, integration, and testing of satellites, along with their launch through SpaceX or ISRO. They are also involved in data download, processing raw data with the help of AI, and operating a satellite control center. Progress has been made in one area, and work is underway in the other areas, in line with the evolving needs of the space industry. Singh emphasized these developments in his remarks.
Emiliano Kargieman, CEO of Satellogic, commended both teams for their effective collaboration that resulted in the successful development and readiness for launch of TSAT-1A. He highlighted how this accomplishment showcases the adaptability of Satellogic's Space Systems program, which enables governments and enterprises to customize a proven satellite model to meet their specific requirements and achieve orbital deployment within a favorable timeframe.
(The author Girish Linganna of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)