The recent successful controlled re-entry experiment of the Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) Satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has brought the satellite back into the limelight. This decommissioned enterprise, launched in October 2011, was a joint Indo-French project aimed at observing Earth’s tropical weather and climate patterns. A specific uninhabited region of the Pacific Ocean was marked as the target for MT-1’s re-entry, demonstrating precision in the management of decommissioned satellites.
Megha-Tropiques-1 Satellite and its Re-entry
ISRO has successfully conducted a controlled re-entry experiment on the decommissioned MT-1 Satellite. The targeted re-entry zone for MT1 was carefully selected to be an uninhabited area located within latitude 5°S to 14°S and longitude 119°W to 100°W in the Pacific Ocean.
Understanding Controlled Re-entry
Controlled re-entry is a process which involves de-orbiting satellites to very low altitudes to ensure the impact occurs within a safe and targeted zone. Typically, large satellites or rocket bodies that are likely to survive aero-thermal fragmentation on re-entry are subjected to controlled re-entry. This helps to mitigate risks associated with ground casualty.
Aero-thermal fragmentation is a consequence of high-speed travel through Earth’s atmosphere. It exposes objects to extreme heat and pressure, causing them to break apart or fragment. As a precautionary measure, satellites are designed specifically to undergo controlled re-entry upon reaching end-of-life.
About Megha-Tropiques-1 Satellite
The MT-1 Satellite is an Indo-French collaboration primarily aimed at improving our understanding of tropical weather and climatic patterns. It contributed significantly towards understanding the life cycle of convective systems. By analyzing these systems’ influence on the tropical weather and energy flux, a more accurate picture of atmospheric conditions in tropical regions was painted.
The satellite’s unique orbit, inclined at 20° to the equator, made it an excellent tool for climate research. Scientists utilized MT-1’s data to refine prediction models for better accuracy.
The Key Payloads of MT-1 Satellite
MT-1 Satellite’s payload comprised four major components. The Microwave Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures (MADRAS) is an Imaging Radiometer developed jointly by CNES (Centre National d’études Spatiales), France and ISRO.
The Sounder for Probing Vertical Profiles of Humidity (SAPHIR) was sourced from CNES. The Scanner for Radiation Budget (ScaRaB) is also a product of CNES. Lastly, the Radio Occultation Sensor for Vertical Profiling of Temperature and Humidity (ROSA) was procured from Italy.
These payloads played pivotal roles in providing rich data for tropical climate research. Through their combined efforts, the team behind the MT-1 Satellite managed to gain valuable insights into our planet’s tropical weather patterns. This information is crucial in enhancing the prediction accuracy of future climate and weather conditions. In turn, these insights can aid in formulating effective response strategies to natural disasters, climatic changes, and other atmospheric anomalies.
