TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) is a collaborative mission between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and CNES (French Space Agency) aimed at monitoring surface temperature and water management on both regional and global scales.
About TRISHNA Mission
- Objective: The mission's primary goal is the detailed monitoring of energy and water budgets of the continental biosphere, enabling quantification of terrestrial water stress and water use and high-resolution observation of water quality and dynamics.
- It will also help in a Comprehensive assessment of urban heat islands, Detection of thermal anomalies linked to volcanic activity and geothermal resources, etc.
- Primary Payloads: TRISHNA carries two main instruments:
- Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload: Provided by CNES, this instrument features a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor.
- Visible – Near Infra-Red – Short Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) payload: Developed by ISRO, this instrument encompasses seven spectral bands designed for detailed mapping of surface reflectance.
- Orbit and Lifespan: TRISHNA will operate in a Sun-synchronous (SSO) orbit, ensuring consistent illumination conditions for imaging. The mission is designed for a 5-year operational lifespan.
- Significance: The data collected by TRISHNA will have wide-ranging applications, including:
- Climate monitoring: Improved understanding of droughts, permafrost changes, and evapotranspiration rates
- Urban planning: Creation of detailed urban heat island maps and heat alerts
- Water resource management: Assessment of water stress and efficient water use
India's International Space Cooperation
TRISHNA is just one example of India's robust international collaboration in space exploration. Other notable partnerships include:
- India-France: Strategic Space Dialogues, Letter of Intent on Defense Space Cooperation, space exchanges, and defense space industrial cooperation.
- India-US: Bilateral space situational awareness arrangement (2022), NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission.
- Others: Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission with Japan, South Asia Satellite (SAS) benefiting India's neighbors.
