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Scientific Payloads

Starting with ground based and balloon borne experiments in the 1940s, the Indian space science research activities were actually initiated with the launching of sounding rockets from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 to measure the equatorial electrojet parameters. Since then large number of rocket and balloon borne experiments have provided new data on upper atmospheric phenomena, cosmic rays and energetic x-ray and gamma rays. With the advent of satellite era, scientific experimental payloads have been launched starting from the first Indian satellite Aryabhata.

Payload

Functional description

Project

X-ray Aeronomy Solar Neutrons & Gamma

X-Ray Aeronomy experiment Solar Neutrons & Gamma detection

Space astronomy

Aryabhata

Astronomy/stellar

X-ray, Gamma ray Detection

Space astronomy

Rohini Satellites

IXAP

Indian X-Ray Astronomy Payload (IXAP)

Space astronomy

IRS-P3

SOLRAD

Solar Radiation Monitor

Space astronomy

Youthsat

LiHySI,

Limb-View Hyper spectral Imager

Space astronomy

Youthsat

RaBIT

Radio Beacon for Ionospheric tomogram

Ionospheric studies

Youthsat

TMC

Terrain Mapping Camera

information about the surface features for 3D imaging of Lunar surface

Chandrayaan-1

LLRI

Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI)

for determining accurate altitude of the spacecraft above the lunar surface for topographical mapping

Chandrayaan-1

HEX

High Energy X-ray payload (HEX)

for measuring210Pb, 222Rn degassing, U, Th etc

Chandrayaan-1

MIP

Moon Impact Probe(MIP)

payload for exploration of the moon from close range and impacting on the moon

Chandrayaan-1

LEX

Low Energy X-ray (LEX) Payload (CIXS).

Space astronomy - X-ray spectrometer

Chandrayaan-1

MINISAR

Mini SAR

for detection of water ice in thepermanently shadowed regions on theLunar poles up to a depth of a fewmeters

Chandrayaan-1

SIR-2

Near InfraredSpectrometer

Investigations of the process of basin,Maria and crater formation on theMoon

Chandrayaan-1

RaDoM

Radiation Dose monitor

To qualitatively and quantitativelycharacterize, in terms of particle flux, dose rate and deposited energyspectrum, the radiation environment in near moon space

Chandrayaan-1

SARA

Sub-KeV Atom Reflecting Analyser

for imaging the Moon surface usinglow energy neutral atoms asdiagnostics in the energy range 10eV-2keV

Chandrayaan-1

MMM

Moon Mineralogy Mapper

spectrometer for characterization andmapping lunar surface mineralogy in the context of lunar geological evolution

Chandrayaan-1

LAP

Lyman Alpha Photometer

absorption cell photometer

MOM

MSM

Methane Sensor for Mars

Measures Methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere

MOM

MENCA

Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser

a quadruple mass spectrometer capable of analysing the neutral composition in the range of 1 to 300 amu with unit mass resolution

MOM

MCC

Mars Color Camera

images & information about the surface features and composition of Martian surface

MOM

TIRIS

Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer

Measure the thermal emission and can be operated during both day and night.

MOM