Indian Satellite Technology Programme Questions and Answers

Question 1 : What is INSAT System?

Answer : INSAT system is a series of multipurpose geo-stationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology and search and rescue operations. INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia Pacific region.

Question 2 : What are the applications of INSAT System?

Answer : The applications of INSAT system are as follows:

  • Telemedicine
  • Satellite News Gathering and Dissemination
  • Radio Networking
  • Telecommunication
  • Satellite Aided Search and Rescue
  • Satellite Navigation
  • Disaster Management
  • Village Resources Centres

Question 3 : What is VHRR?

Answer : The heart of INSAT’s weather monitoring payload is an instrument called VHRR (Very High Resolution Radiometer). It is basically a telescope with a scan mirror, which can receive images in the visible and infrared wavelengths. The VHRR provides round the clock half-hourly, synoptic images of the weather conditions including cyclones, sea-surface and cloud temperatures.

Question 4 : What is IRS?

Answer : The IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) Satellite System are state of the art satellites, indigenously designed and put into polar or Sun synchronous orbit for useful remote sensing applications.

Question 5 : What are the applications of IRS?

Answer : The applications of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) are the following:

  • Preharvest crop area and production estimation of major crops.
  • Drought/irrigation monitoring and assessment based on vegetation condition.
  • Flood risk zone mapping and flood damage assessment.
  • Hydro-geomorphologic maps for locating underground water resources for drilling well.
  • Snow-melt runoff estimates for planning water use in down stream projects.
  • Land use and land cover mapping.
  • Urban planning.
  • Forest survey.
  • Wetland mapping.
  • Environmental impact analysis Mineral Prospecting.
  • Coastal studies.

Question 6 : How INSAT helps in Telemedicine?

Answer : The telemedicine facility connects the remote District Hospitals/Health Centres with Super Specialty Hospitals in cities, through the INSAT Satellites for providing expert consultation to the needy and undeserved population.

Question 7 : How INSAT helps in News Gathering and Dissemination?

Answer : Satellite News Gathering using INSAT system enables on the spot real-time news coverage and important events at different locations for broadcast over respective DD channels. This facility is used by Prasar Bharti and press trust of India too.

Question 8 : How INSAT helps in Radio Networking?

Answer : Radio Networking (RN) through INSAT provides a reliable high-fidelity programme channels for national as well as regional networking. This is used by AIR.

Question 9 : How INSAT helps in Telecommunication?

Answer : Telecommunication terminals of various sizes and capabilities (excluding NICNET and VSAT micro terminals) are operating in INSAT telecommunications network providing 8177 two-way speech circuits.

Question 10 : How INSAT helps in Search and Rescue?

Answer : India is a member of the international COSPAS-SARSAT programme for providing distress alert and position location service through LEOSAR (Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue) satellite system. Under this programme, India has established two Local User Terminals (LUTs), one at Lucknow and the other at Bangalore. The Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC), is located at ISTRAC, Bangalore.

Question 11 : What are VRCs?

Answer : To provide the space technology enabled services directly to the rural population, ISRO launched the Village Resource Centres (VRCs) programme in association with reputed NGOs/Trusts and state/central agencies.

The VRCs are connected to Knowledge/Expert Centres like Agricultural Universities, Skill Development Institutes and Hospitals. Over 6500 programmes have been conducted by the VRCs in the areas of, Argiculture/horticulture, Fisheries, Live stock, Water resources etc.