TRISHNA Mission: India-France Satellite to Launch in 2027
Why in News?
The Prime Minister announced that India and France will jointly launch the TRISHNA satellite mission. Developed jointly by ISRO and France’s national space agency CNES, this Earth-observation satellite is designed to address global challenges in water resource management, climate monitoring, and food security.
Key Facts for Prelims: TRISHNA Mission
- Full Form: Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment
- Developed by: ISRO (India) and CNES (France)
- Launch Timeline: Planned for 2027
- Primary Target: High-resolution tracking of Earth’s surface temperature, vegetation health, and water cycle dynamics
- Operational Lifespan: Minimum baseline mission of 5 years
- Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous orbit
- ISRO’s Role: Provides the satellite platform and the Visible-Near Infrared-Short Wave Infrared (VNIR-SWIR) payload; acts as prime contractor
- CNES’s Role: Co-responsible for the mission; provides the Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload
Static Exam Link: India-France Space Cooperation
CNES (Centre National d’Γtudes Spatiales) is France’s national space agency, functioning as a counterpart to ISRO. TRISHNA is a flagship example of bilateral Earth-observation cooperation, distinct from India’s joint missions with other partners such as NISAR (India-USA, with NASA), which is a synthetic aperture radar mission rather than a thermal-infrared mission.
- TRISHNA payload combines thermal infrared (TIR) and VNIR-SWIR imaging, unlike radar-based missions
- Focus areas: evapotranspiration monitoring, surface energy budgeting, and climate change impact assessment
Quick Revision Table: TRISHNA at a Glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment |
| Partner Agencies | ISRO (India) & CNES (France) |
| Planned Launch | 2027 |
| Mission Life | Minimum 5 years |
| Orbit | Sun-synchronous |
| Key Focus | Water resource management, climate monitoring, food security |
Trap / Confusing Points
| Confusion | Correct Fact |
|---|---|
| TRISHNA vs NISAR | TRISHNA is an ISRO-CNES (France) thermal imaging mission; NISAR is an ISRO-NASA (USA) radar mission |
| CNES is a company | CNES is France’s national space agency, not a private company |
| TRISHNA studies only temperature | It also monitors vegetation health and water cycle dynamics, not temperature alone |
| ISRO provides thermal payload | CNES provides the Thermal Infra-Red payload; ISRO provides the VNIR-SWIR payload |
Practice MCQs
1. TRISHNA is a joint satellite mission between ISRO and which agency?
a. NASA
b. CNES
c. ESA
d. JAXA
Ans: B
TRISHNA is jointly developed by ISRO and CNES, France’s national space agency.
2. What does the “T” in TRISHNA stand for?
a. Temperature
b. Thermal
c. Tropical
d. Terrestrial
Ans: B
TRISHNA stands for Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment.
3. Which of the following is a primary focus area of the TRISHNA mission?
a. Deep space exploration
b. Water resource management and food security
c. Lunar mineral mapping
d. Communication relay
Ans: B
TRISHNA addresses water resource management, climate monitoring, and food security challenges.
4. What is the minimum planned operational lifespan of the TRISHNA satellite?
a. 2 years
b. 5 years
c. 8 years
d. 10 years
Ans: B
TRISHNA is designed for a minimum baseline mission life of 5 years.
5. In the TRISHNA mission, ISRO is primarily responsible for which payload?
a. Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload
b. VNIR-SWIR payload
c. Synthetic Aperture Radar
d. Laser altimeter
Ans: B
ISRO provides the platform and the Visible-Near Infrared-Short Wave Infrared (VNIR-SWIR) payload; CNES provides the Thermal Infra-Red payload.
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