The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently announced the start of operations of the electro-optical infrared (EOIR) payload within the EOS-08 Earth observation satellite. The satellite was launched on August 16 by the space agency’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The main objective of this mission is to improve India’s thermal imaging capabilities. The EOIR payload is said to be state-of-the-art, developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Center (SAC) and equipped with mid-wave infrared (MIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) channels to provide high-resolution imaging capabilities.
Capturing the first thermal image
The Indian Space Agency confirmed that the EOIR payload captured the first thermal image over Pune on August 19, demonstrating the accuracy of the MIR channel. Just two days later, on August 21, it captured images of the Namibian desert, showing detailed thermal data using the long-wave infrared channel.
EOIR image of Pune city
Image source: ISRO
The images demonstrate the payload’s ability to capture temperature changes with spatial accuracy up to eight meters, significantly enhancing thermal mapping. These technologies will play a vital role in fields as diverse as agriculture, wildfire management, and urban planning.
Comparison with Landsat-09
To verify the performance of the EOIR payload, its data were compared with data from the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) of the Landsat-09 satellite. Comparisons conducted in Santiago, Chile confirmed the superior resolution of Isro technology, enabling more precise and detailed thermal measurements.
Cross-domain applications
In agriculture, data from EOIR payloads can improve water usage and crop yields by mapping soil moisture and monitoring vegetation health. Its ability to detect thermal emissions makes it an effective tool for wildfire detection and management. Urban planners can also benefit from using high-resolution data to identify urban heat islands (UHI) and design sustainable cities.
Continuous verification
EOIR data are being processed at the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC-ISRO) using algorithms created by SAC-ISRO. This will help provide actionable insights that solidify the role of payloads in environmental monitoring and addressing climate challenges.
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