IMAGING

BMC seeks nod for tech feasibility study of GMLR

After being denied permission to conduct a a geo-technical investigation to check the feasibility of constructing a tunnel under Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for the proposed Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project by SGNP authorities, the BMC has shot off a letter to the principal secretary(forests) informing him about the need to conduct the same and why remote-sensing investigation will not help.

Officials from the civic body said that they had got IIT Bombay to study whether the data through remote sensing investigations would help them arrive at a conclusion.

While conducting a geo- technical survey, a hollow pipe will percolate and help the authorities decide the soil strata. While the BMC is determined to conduct a geotechnical survey, authorities at SGNP had asked the civic body to procure the required data by undertaking remote sensing. This is because authorities at SGNP fear that conducting a geo-technical survey might affect the natural habitat around the national park. Additional municipal commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee confirmed having communicated to the state principal secretary (forests) about the need for the geo-technical survey, especially after IIT having submitted its report on the same. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Lapan launches third-generation remote sensing satellite

The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) has launched the third-generation LAPAN-A3/ LAPAN-IPB satellite witnessed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the institutes Aviation Technology Center. “The satellite is on an experimental remote sensing mission to monitor food resources,” Lapans Head of Public Relations, Jasyanto, revealed. The LAPAN-A3/LAPAN-IPB satellite was launched from Sriharikota, India. “The results can also be used to evaluate the governments programs in the maritime sector,” he emphasized. The remote sensing satellite has a four-band multi-spectral imaging camera, with a resolution of 18 meters and a swath width of 100 kilometers. http://www.antaranews.com

ISRO launches PSLV-C34 carrying record 20 satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently launched a record 20 satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. PSLV-C34 is being used to carry the satellites, including India’s earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre. The 320-tonne PSLV C-34 carried 17 foreign small satellites from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and the US but the main passenger was a 727-kg Indian earth observation satellite called Cartosat-2, which can take high-resolution images. The launch also placed into orbit two Indian academic community-built satellites, Sathyabhamasat and Swayam.

Terra Bella plans to launch more satellite with ISRO

After successfully launching the payload of 20 satellites, Google subsidiary, Terra Bella is negotiating with ISRO to launch more of their satellites. Among various other satellites that were launched by ISRO recently, a 110 kg SkySat Gen2-1 belonging to Terra Bella and 12 of Planet Lab’s Dove Satellites, each weighing 4.7 kg, were placed in orbit by PSLV-C34 mission.

SkySat Gen2-1 is a small earth imaging satellite capable of capturing sub-metre resolution images and high definition video. The Planet Labs Dove Satellites (FLock- 2P) are also earth imaging satellites. Both the companies have plans for a series of launches and ISRO is in touch with them.

DigitalGlobe gets advanced analytics services contract worth $55 mn

DigitalGlobe has been awarded with and advanced analytics services contract by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The contract was given at a ceiling value of $55 million. DigitalGlobe provides earth-imagery products and services sourced from own satellite constellation and third-party providers to the United States and to others internationally.