SCATSAT-1: Important Topics for UPSC Exams

What?

SCATSAT-1 or Scatterometer-1 is a continuity mission for Oceansat-2 which will provide wind vector data products for weather forecasting, cyclone detection and tracking services to the users.
Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C35, Launch Mass: 371 Kg, Earth Observation satellite.
Sun synchronous polar orbit at 780km altitude.
Launch place: Sriharikota.
PSLV: 4 stage rocket with a mixture of liquid and solid fueled stages.
Ku-band, scatterometer is used in it, similar to the one used in Oceansat-2.

Because of instrument failure of Oceansat-2 satellite in 2014 and oceansat-3 being planned in 2018, therefore to address the gap scatsat-1 was launched with 5 year mission life in September 2016.

34th consecutive success for PSLV launch vehicle of ISRO.
6th launch in a year by ISRO, the earlier maximum was 5 launches in 2015.
Longest mission till date, lasting more than 2 hours.
Built from leftover from other satellite mission, therefore optimal waste use approach.
2 Indian satellites: Pratham (10kg) built by (IIT-Bombay) and Pisat (5.25 kg) from PES University, Bengaluru were also sent with this mission. Also, some foreign satellites were sent.