The India-Bhutan SAT (INS-2B), a collaborative venture between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bhutan, has surpassed expectations by persisting in orbit long after its projected mission lifespan.
Launched on November 26, 2022, with a stipulated mission duration of six months, the INS-2B satellite has defied conventional boundaries, remaining operational well beyond its initial mandate.
Crafted on the INS-2 Bus platform, the satellite houses two pivotal payloads: NanoMx, a multispectral optical imaging instrument crafted by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), and APRS-Digipeater, a joint endeavor between DITT-Bhutan and U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
Despite initial projections, the satellite has continued to operate seamlessly, showcasing its resilience by extending its orbital tenure by an additional six months. The exact span of its celestial endurance, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Drawing parallels with its predecessor, Bhutan-1, which outlived its six-month lifespan to serve admirably for over two years and three months, completing a staggering 13,000 orbits around Earth, INS-2B exemplifies the indomitable spirit of innovation and exploration.
Weighing in at 17.8 kg, the India-Bhutan SAT fulfills a dual mandate: capturing optical images with precision using a sophisticated high-resolution camera and relaying text messages from space for amateur radio enthusiasts.
Currently, the satellite is engaged in a myriad of pioneering studies, including comprehensive landslide inventory mapping in southwestern Bhutan, meticulous urban settlement mapping of Thimphu, and exhaustive solar potential assessment of Samtse.
In seamless coordination with entities such as the Department of Forest and Parks Services and the Department of Human Settlement, these initiatives harness joint satellite imagery data to unlock new vistas of satellite applications across diverse domains.
Operational directives, including image capture commands, are dispatched from ground stations meticulously overseen by ISRO. These ground stations, in tandem with ISRO’s expansive network, facilitate the download of critical satellite image data, subsequently processed at designated data centers.
Despite its remarkable achievements, challenges persist, including limitations in data transmission capacity and the omnipresent obstacle of cloud cover, which can diminish the satellite’s efficacy for intricate applications.
In the event of technical exigencies, a collaborative approach between GovTech and ISRO ensures prompt resolution of any encountered hurdles, underscoring the symbiotic relationship driving the success of the India-Bhutan SAT mission.
