IRS-1A (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite-1A) was India’s first operational remote-sensing satellite, marking a major milestone in the country’s space program. It was designed to provide high-resolution imagery for applications in agriculture, forestry, soil mapping, water resources, and disaster management.

Launch Date: 17 March 1988

Launch Vehicle: Vostok Rocket (Soviet Union)

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Soviet Union

Orbit: Polar Sun-Synchronous Orbit (904 km altitude)

Inclination: 99.2°

Revisit Time: 22 days

Mission Life: 8 years (designed for 3 years)

Outcome: Highly successful

Payload: Two optical imaging cameras

LISS-I (Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor-I)

Resolution: 72.5 m

Swathe Width: 140 km

LISS-II (Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor-II)

Twin sensors (LISS-IIA & LISS-IIB)

Resolution: 36.25 m

Swathe Width: 74 km each (combined 148 km)

Coverage: Captured high-quality multispectral images of India in four spectral bands

IRS-1A was a landmark mission in India’s space history, demonstrating ISRO’s growing capabilities in satellite design and Earth observation. It laid the foundation for India’s self-reliant remote sensing program, benefiting multiple sectors and making India a global leader in satellite-based Earth observation.