In a remarkable showcase of local engineering prowess, Tricity residents are celebrating a significant milestone in India’s space journey. The recent successful launch of the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) has spotlighted the innovative contributions of the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali.
On Friday morning, at 9:17 am, the SSLV carrying the EOS-08 was launched from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission was executed flawlessly, with the satellite entering its designated 475 km circular low Earth orbit just 17 minutes post-launch. This successful deployment marks a notable advancement in satellite-based surveillance and environmental monitoring.
The satellite is equipped with cutting-edge technology developed right here in Mohali. The Semi-Conductor Laboratory’s indigenously designed and fabricated devices play a crucial role in the mission. Among the critical components are three bending mode accelerometers and a Precision Resistance Thermometer (PRT) housed in a multi-chip module, as well as a sophisticated 36 multi-core reconfigurable data acquisition system. These advanced instruments are pivotal for the satellite’s operations in monitoring disaster scenarios, environmental changes, flood detection, and inland water body assessments.
This launch follows a series of successful contributions from SCL to space missions. Notably, during the Chandrayaan-3 mission on August 23, 2023, SCL-fabricated technologies, including the Vikram Processor (1601 PE01) for the Launch Vehicle Navigation (LVM3) and the CMOS Camera Configurator (SC1216-0) for the Vikram Lander imager, were instrumental in the mission’s success.
The successful deployment of EOS-08 not only demonstrates the technical expertise of Mohali’s SCL but also underscores the region’s growing significance in the realm of space technology. As India continues to make strides in space exploration and satellite technology, Mohali remains at the forefront of this exciting journey.
