TRISHNA

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Context

TRISHNA, the Indo-French satellite is expected to be launched in 2026.

TRISHNA: Thermal InfraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment

The TRISHNA mission was first announced during bilateral talks between India and France in July 2023. It is slated for launch in 2026 aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

This mission follows the successful Indo-French collaborations on the Megha-Tropiques and SARAL satellites, marking another significant milestone in space cooperation between the two countries.

Megha-Tropiques is an Indo-French Joint Satellite Mission for studying the water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics. The Satellite with ARGOS and ALTIKA (SARAL) is a joint Indo-French satellite mission for oceanographic studies. SARAL performs altimetric measurements designed to study ocean circulation and sea surface elevation.

Objectives

TRISHNA is designed to provide high-resolution thermal infrared imagery, which is critical for applications such as monitoring water resources, land surface temperature, and vegetation health. The mission aims to deliver a ground resolution of approximately 57 meters and a revisit interval of around three days.

Key Instruments

• Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR)/Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) Sensor (VSWIR): This sensor will capture imagery in the visible and shortwave infrared spectrum.
• Thermal InfraRed Instrument (TIR): The TIR will provide crucial thermal data for environmental and resource assessments.

India-France Space Collaboration

India-France space cooperation dates back to the 1960s. A key step forward is 2018, with the Joint Vision for Space Cooperation. The document details a commitment to intensify cooperation on the satellite mission, human spaceflight, and maritime domain awareness, among other areas

One of the major milestones is a liaison office of CNES was established in Bengaluru in 2013. MoU on cooperation in space was signed in 2015 and an Indo-French working group on human spaceflight was set up in 2019. The India-France Strategic Space Dialogue was launched in 2023 that includes both civilian and defence aspects of space. The dialogue had further identified some priority areas for cooperation, which include:

• Joint satellite ventures, such as the TRISHNA mission.
• Maritime Domain Awareness is significant for monitoring oceanic territories.
• Human Space Flight where French expertise is supplemented by India Gaganyaan mission.
• The discussion also encompassed protection of space assets and particularly in the context of China's anti-satellite tests along with other threats to sustainability in space.

The bilateral strategic dialogue on space security was formalized in 2022, which places France in the small league of nations, along with the US and Japan who have a structured space security partnership with India.
The French Space Days India 2023 event further exemplified the growing bond, with significant MoUs signed between Indian and French space companies.  The 2019 establishment of a maritime surveillance center in India highlighted the strategic dimension of space cooperation, particularly in maritime security.

Sources:Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q:Discuss the significance of India-France space cooperation in the context of global space governance and technological advancement. (150 Words)