Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the Electro Optical-Infrared (EOIR) payload aboard its EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite has commenced operations, marking a key milestone in thermal imaging technology.
EOS-08, launched on August 16, 2024, via ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), represents a significant advancement in Earth observation, especially in thermal imaging, with its high-resolution capabilities.
Developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), the EOIR payload features both mid-wave infrared (MIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) channels. These channels enable detailed thermal imaging for various environmental and planning applications.
On August 19, 2024, the EOIR payload captured its first image over Pune, India, using its MIR channel, demonstrating its potential for high-resolution thermal imaging.
The payload captured images of the Namibia Desert on August 21, highlighting the LWIR channel’s ability to capture detailed thermal variations, further showcasing the payload's accuracy in temperature mapping.
The EOIR payload's performance has been validated through comparison with Landsat-09's Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data over Santiago, Chile. The payload’s resolution of 8 meters spatial accuracy provides detailed temperature data.
The payload has various applications, including monitoring soil moisture and vegetation health in agriculture. It also aids in wildfire management by detecting heat emissions from active fires, enabling early detection and monitoring.
Representative pic
Urban planners can use the payload to map Urban Heat Islands (UHI) with high precision, contributing to sustainable city design. The processed data, managed by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), is expected to provide actionable insights for environmental monitoring and climate challenges.