🚀 PSLV-C63 Mission: ISRO Set to Launch Oceansat-3A for Advanced Ocean Monitoring
📅 NET Q1 2026 | Sriharikota Launch Pad
Continuity Mission: Ocean Color, Wind Vectors & Sea Surface Temperature Data
Continuity Mission: Ocean Color, Wind Vectors & Sea Surface Temperature Data
Mission Overview
Oceansat-3A (also known as EOS-10) is ISRO's follow-on Earth observation satellite in the Oceansat series, designed to provide enhanced continuity for global ocean monitoring. Launched aboard the reliable PSLV-XL rocket, it will focus on ocean colour data, surface wind vectors, and sea surface temperature – critical for fisheries, weather forecasting, and climate studies.
Key Mission Highlights
- Launch Vehicle: PSLV-XL (potentially first industry-built by HAL-L&T consortium)
- Orbit: Sun-synchronous polar orbit (~740 km altitude)
- Mission Life: 5+ years
- Primary Objectives: Monitor phytoplankton blooms, chlorophyll concentration, suspended sediments, aerosols, and ocean surface winds
- Applications: Cyclone prediction, marine fisheries, coastal zone management, and climate research
Advanced Payloads Onboard
Building on Oceansat-3 (launched 2022), Oceansat-3A carries improved instruments including:
- Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM-3): 13-band imaging for detailed ocean biology and colour data
- Ku-band Scatterometer (OSCAT-3): Pencil-beam for high-resolution wind speed/direction over oceans
- Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM): Enhanced thermal imaging capabilities
Why It Matters
This mission ensures uninterrupted global ocean data for scientists, supporting sustainable fisheries, disaster warning systems, and India's Blue Economy initiatives. A milestone for private industry involvement in PSLV production.
