Question

What is the name given to India's Meteorological Research Satellite launched in 2003?
A) Vikram-1
B) Bhaskara-1
C) Kalpana-1
D) Arya Bhatta-1

Answer 1

Meteorological satellites (METSAT) provide an alternative means of obtaining weather data to drive ecosystem models on earth. Meteorological satellites can be operated for either daily weather coverage or continuous coverage. But due to the very high altitude of their orbits from the surface of earth, they are often limited in their spatial resolution. Regular archiving of these data is often required at even coarser resolution.

For meteorological observation and weather coverage, METSAT carries a Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) capable of imaging the Earth in the visible, thermal infrared and water vapors bands. It also carries a Data Relay Transponder (DRT) for collecting data from unattended meteorological platforms. METSAT relays the data sent by these platforms to the Meteorological Data Utilization Centre at New Delhi. Such platforms have been installed all over the country.
In 2003 ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) launched the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites.
It is ISRO's first dedicated GEO weather satellite project built by ISRO.
METSAT -1 which was India’s Meteorological Research Satellite launched by ISRO in 2003 was renamed as Kalpana - 1 on February 5, 2003 after the Indian born American Astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who died on February 1, 2003 in the US Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. It is the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO.
The METSAT spacecraft was launched into GTO with ISRO's PSLV-C4 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) from the "Satish Dhawan Space Center, SHAR(India).

Hence, option C is the correct option.

Note: The METSAT series of satellites are geostationary meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Program (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program.
INSAT is the first Indian geostationary satellite, equipped with a sounder instrument that provides atmospheric profiles, like temperature and humidity over Indian landmass and adjoining areas.