TRISHNA Mission—India-France Joint Earth Observation Mission
TRISHNA is a joint Earth observation mission between India and France, being developed by ISRO and CNES, aimed at conducting high-resolution studies of Earth's surface temperature and environmental changes. It will feature a TIR payload from CNES and a VNIR-SWIR payload from ISRO, providing data on surface temperature, emissivity, reflectance, and radiation. The mission will be useful for studying water scarcity, agriculture, irrigation, drought, urban heat islands, glaciers, water bodies, and atmospheric parameters. TRISHNA will be placed in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of approximately 761 km, offering a spatial resolution of 57 meters over land and approximately 1 km over oceans/polar regions, with a planned mission life of 5 years.
TRISHNA (Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High-Resolution Natural Resource Assessment) is a joint Earth observation mission between India and France. It is being developed by ISRO and the French space agency, CNES. Its primary objective is to conduct high-resolution studies of Earth's surface temperature, emissivity, and environmental changes.
Key Mission Technology and Payloads
TRISHNA will carry two primary payloads:
TIR (Thermal Infrared) Payload—Developed by CNES; it will study surface temperature and emissivity using a 4-channel Long-Wave Infrared sensor.
VNIR-SWIR Payload—Developed by ISRO; it will feature 7 spectral bands to provide data on surface reflectance and radiation.
Utility for Water Scarcity and Agriculture
Data obtained from TRISHNA will assist in assessing terrestrial water stress, water usage, and water-energy budgets. High-resolution thermal data can be utilized in the agricultural sector for determining crop water requirements, managing irrigation, and monitoring droughts. This will facilitate more scientific and sustainable management of water resources.
Role in Climate and Environmental Studies
The mission will facilitate the study of Urban Heat Islands, glacier dynamics, snowmelt runoff, coastal and inland water bodies, and volcanic/geothermal areas. Additionally, atmospheric parameters such as aerosols, water vapor, and clouds will be monitored.
Orbit and Spatial Resolution
TRISHNA is planned to be deployed in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of approximately 761 km. Its planned spatial resolution is about 57 meters for land and coastal areas and approximately 1 km for oceanic and polar regions. The mission has a planned lifespan of 5 years.
Significance for UPSC—Space Diplomacy and Climate Action
TRISHNA is a mission designed to strengthen India's Earth Observation capabilities, climate monitoring, and natural resource management. It can provide valuable scientific data relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change studies, agriculture, water management, and disaster management. It is significant in the context of India-France space cooperation, as it combines ISRO’s satellite and launch capabilities with CNES’s expertise in thermal infrared Earth observation. For UPSC aspirants, studying this mission is beneficial as it intersects the fields of Science & Technology, Environment, and International Relations.
