India's Tata launches Earth observation satellite

India's TASL launched an Earth observation satellite aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission on 7 April. The satellite can be used to gather intelligence for the Indian Armed Forces. (SpaceX)

India's Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has launched an Earth observation satellite that can be leveraged by the Indian Armed Forces to enhance surveillance of strategic areas of interest.

The satellite, named TSAT-1A, was carried into space by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission, which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 7 April, a spokesperson for TASL confirmed to Janes on 8 April.

TASL built TSAT-1A in collaboration with North Carolina-based Satellogic, following a collaboration agreement between the two companies in late November 2023.

TSAT-1A is an optical sub-metre-resolution Earth observation satellite. “TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities,” TASL said.

A spokesperson for TASL previously told Janes that TSAT-1A can “enable defence forces to enhance their preparedness, response capabilities, and strategic decision making”.

TASL added that TSAT-1A was assembled at an assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) plant in its Vemagal facility in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

TSAT-1A is based on Satellogic's NewSat Mark V satellite, which includes a four-band, 70 cm multispectral camera with monochromatic full-motion video capabilities, and a 29-band, 18 m hyperspectral camera. According to Satellogic, the NewSat Mark V has a lifespan of three to four years.