NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2019-081A
The Cartosat 3 spacecraft is the latest in a series of Earth observation satellites that India has launched over the past fifteen years. Following on from the successful Cartosat 2 series, it will provide images with higher resolution than its predecessors. Further Cartosat 3 satellites are expected to be launched in the coming years to upgrade India’s imaging capabilities for both civilian and military applications.
The 1,625-kilogram (3,583-pound) satellite carries panchromatic, multispectral and infrared imagers. The panchromatic camera can image the Earth’s surface at resolutions of up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches), while the multispectral payload operates in four bands, at resolutions of up to one meter (3.3 feet).
The satellite’s mid-range infrared (MWIR) imager has a resolution of five meters (16.4 meters). It will operate in a near-circular sun-synchronous polar orbit, about 509 kilometers (316 miles, 275 nautical miles) above the Earth at an inclination of 97.5 degrees.
Launch Date: 2019-11-27
Launch Vehicle: PSLV-XL
Launch Site: Sriharikota, India
Mass: 1625 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office