kalpana-1

METSAT (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) is the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO.  Mission Meteorological Spacecraft Mass 1060 Kg mass (at Lift – off) 498 Kg (Dry mass)  Onboard Power   550 W Payload Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) Data Relay Transponder (DRT) Launch date 12 September 2002 Launch site SHAR, Sriharikota Launch vehicle PSLV – C4 Orbit Geostationary (74 deg East longitude) Mission 7 Years