TheCartosat is aseries of Indian opticalEarth observation satellites built and operated by theIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Cartosat series is a part of theIndian Remote Sensing Program. They are used for Earth's resource management, defence services and monitoring.

TheDepartment of Space (DoS) had launched and managed theIRS series ofremote sensing satellites for Earth's resource management and monitoring. These satellites were very successful in providing data in various scales ranging from 1:1 Million to 1:12,500 scale.^[1] Each of theIRS missions ensured data continuity while introducing improvements in the spatial, spectral and radiometric resolutions. Considering increased demand for large scale and topographic mapping data, the DoS launched the expanded Cartosat series of remote sensing satellites. The first satellite of the series, Cartosat-1, was launched in 2005.

Cartosat-1 was launched byPSLV-C6 on 5 May 2005 fromSatish Dhawan Space Centre'sSLP atSriharikota.^[2] Images from the satellite are available fromGeoEye for worldwide distribution. The satellite covers the entire globe in 1867 orbits on a 126-day cycle.^[1] It carries two state-of-the-artpanchromatic (PAN) cameras that take black and white stereoscopic pictures of the earth in the visible region of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The two cameras with 2.5 m spatial resolution, acquire two images simultaneously, one forward looking (FORE) at +26 degrees and one aft of the satellite at −5 degrees for near instantaneous stereo data.^[3] The time difference between the acquisitions of the same scene by the two cameras is about 52 seconds.^[1]

Cartosat-2 was launched byPSLV-C7 on 10 January 2007 fromSatish Dhawan Space Centre'sFLP atSriharikota. Cartosat-2 carries a state-of-the-artpanchromatic (PAN) camera that take black and white pictures of the Earth in the visible region of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The swath covered by this high resolution PAN camera is 9.6 km and their spatial resolution is less than 1 metre.^[4] The satellite can be steered up to 45 degrees along as well as across the track. Cartosat-2 is an advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery. The data from the satellite is used for detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at cad-astral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as applications in Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).

Cartosat-2A was launched byPSLV-C9 on 28 April 2008 fromSatish Dhawan Space Centre inSriharikota along with nine other satellites.^[5] It is a dedicated satellite for theIndian Armed Forces which is in the process of establishing anAerospace Command.^[6] The satellite carries apanchromatic (PAN)camera capable of takingblack-and-white pictures in the visible region ofelectromagnetic spectrum. The highly agile Cartosat-2A can be steered up to 45 degrees along as well as across the direction of its movement to facilitate imaging of any area more frequently.

Cartosat-2B was launched byPSLV-C15 on 12 July 2010 fromSriharikota. The satellite carries apanchromatic (PAN)camera capable of takingblack-and-white pictures in the visible region ofelectromagnetic spectrum. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2B can be steered up to 26 degrees along as well as across the direction of its movement to facilitate imaging of any area more frequently.^[7]

Cartosat-2C has a lower resolution of 25 cm (10"). It uses 1.2 m optics with 60% of weight removal compared to Cartosat-2. Other features include the use of adaptive optics, acousto optical devices, in-orbit focusing using MEMs and large area-light weight mirrors.^[8] The satellite was to be launched on board PSLV C-34 during 2014,^[9] but was delayed and finally launched on 22 June 2016. Its uses include weather mapping, cartography, and strategic applications.^[10][11][12]

Cartosat-2D was launched byPSLV-C37 on 15 February 2017 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Cartosat-2E was launched by PSLV-C38 on 23 June 2017. The PSLV-C38 rocket launched the 712 kg satellite along with 30 other nano satellites.

Cartosat-2F was launched successfully byPSLV-C40 on 12 January 2018. The PSLV-C40 rocket launched the 710 kg satellite, the seventh of the Cartosat-2 series, along with 30 other nano satellites from India, Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and the USA.^[13][14]

Cartosat-3 was launched on 27 November 2019 byPSLV-C47 rocket along with 13 other cubesats from USA.^[15] It has a panchromatic resolution of 0.25 metres making it the imaging satellite with highest resolution and Mx of 1 metre with a high quality resolution which is a major improvement from the previous payloads in the Cartosat series.^[16]

• Indian Remote Sensing Programme
• List of Indian satellites
• Information Gathering Satellite

• Cartosat
• Military equipment introduced in the 2000s

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