Azista BST Aerospace in Ahmedabad will launch its first satellite, ABA First Runner (AFR), using Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 13 at 2.39 am Indian Standard Time. The Indian space technology business is booming thanks to the 2023 Indian Space Policy.
Azista Industries Private Limited and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH founded ABA. Ahmedabad’s 50,000-square-foot ABA plant makes tiny satellites.
The 80-kilogram ABA First Runner satellite includes a panchromatic and multispectral optical remote sensing payload.
Remote sensing, panchromatic, and multispectral pictures mean what?
Remote sensing collects data about an object or region without direct touch. Cameras, radar, and lasers can achieve this.
Panchromatic photographs capture one light band, usually the visible spectrum. They do not register color, simply brightness.
Multispectral photographs are often taken in the visible and near-infrared region. They record the brightness of the item or region being scanned in numerous colors, which may detect different materials and objects.
Remote sensing, panchromatic, and multispectral pictures
- Earth observation: To monitor land use, climate change, and natural disasters
- Mapping: To create detailed maps of the Earth’s surface
- Security: To monitor borders and detect illegal activities
- Agriculture: To monitor crops and identify pests and diseases
- Wildlife conservation: To track animal populations and identify habitats
AFR is an Indian private space industry satellite. The first satellite of its size and capabilities to be employed for vital civilian and military applications.
Azista BST Aerospace head Sunil Indurti claimed the business picked SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket over India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) due of its satellite compartment.
Azista BST Aerospace booked a Falcon 9 rocket slot while the Indian space sector was changing. Private-sector regulation caused these modifications.
ISRO seldom launches PSLV rockets, unlike SpaceX. ISRO’s launch costs are comparable to other companies, Indurti said.
ABA Managing Director Srinivas Reddy Male said the debut of AFR is exciting and would allow satellite constellations realize their potential for many uses. Azista BST Aerospace will build 10 satellites in 2024.