VERY HIGH-RESOLUTION RADIOMETERS FOR INSAT-2

India is the first among the developing countries of the world to have its own satellites for communications, remote sensing and meteorology. The INSAT-1 series of satellites built to Indian specifications by the Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation had the unique distinction of providing Communications and meteorological services from a single platform. These services are now being continued with enhanced capabilities through the indigenously developed INSAT-2 series of satellites. This paper describes the design, development and qualification of the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) for imaging the earth disc in the visible and thermal infrared bands from INSAT-2 for meteorological applications. Following a brief introduction to satellite meteorology, a description of the INSAT-2 VHRR instrument and the qualification process are provided. Two indigenously developed VHRRs are now operational onboard INSAT-2A and INSAT-2B and are providing weather data to the India Meteorological Department. Their ground test results and inorbit performance parameters are compared with the design specifications.