IRS-1B

IRS-1B was the second of the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series of satellites. Launched on August 29, 1991, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, it followed IRS-1A and was designed to provide continuity in remote sensing data acquisition for various applications, including agriculture, forestry, geology, hydrology, and oceanography.

IRS-1B carried two primary payloads: the Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor (LISS-II) and the Wide Field Sensor (WiFS). LISS-II provided high-resolution imagery, enabling detailed mapping and resource assessment. WiFS offered a wider swath, allowing for synoptic coverage and vegetation monitoring.

The satellite operated in a sun-synchronous orbit, ensuring consistent illumination conditions for data acquisition. Data from IRS-1B was crucial for monitoring natural resources, assessing crop health, and supporting disaster management efforts in India.

After a successful operational life, IRS-1B was eventually decommissioned, but it played a significant role in establishing India as a leader in remote sensing technology and contributed valuable data to various Earth observation applications. It was followed by a succession of increasingly advanced IRS satellites, building upon the foundations laid by IRS-1A and IRS-1B.