CARTOSAT Series :-

The CARTOSAT satellite are a series of Indian Optical Earth satellite, built and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is a part of the Indian Remote Sensing Program. They are used for Earth's resource management defence service and monitoring. CARTOSAT satellites are launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle ( PSLV) series. PSLV is an indigenously developed expendable launch system of the ISRO. PSLV is used for delivering various Low Earth Orbits. It is designed mainly to deliver the earth observation or remote sensing satellite with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 kg.

Now, let's talk about the CARTOSAT series in details.

CARTOSAT 1 :-

CARTOSAT 1 was launched by PSLV- C6 on May 5, 2005 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It carries two state-of-the-art panchromatic (PAN) camera that take black and white stereoscopic pictures of the earth in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The camera is with 2.5m spatial resolution, aquire two images simultaneously. The time difference between the acquisition of the picture by the two camera is about 52 seconds.

CARTOSAT 2 :-

CARTOSAT 2 was launched by PSLV- C7 on January 10, 2007 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic (PAN) camera that take black and white pictures of the earth in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The data from the satellite is used for detailed mapping and other cartographic applications at CAD-astral level, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).

CARTOSAT 2A:-

CARTOSAT 2A was launched by PSLV-C9 on April 28, 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota along with 9 other satellites. It is a dedicated satellite for the Indian Armed Forces. The satellite carries panchromatic (PAN) camera that take black and white pictures in the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum.

CARTOSAT 2B :-

CARTOSAT 2B was launched by PSLV-C15 on July 12, 2010 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The satellite carries a panchromatic (PAN) camera capable of taking black and white pictures in the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum.

CARTOSAT 2C :-

CARTOSAT 2C was launched by PSLV-C34 on June 22, 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The features of this satellite include the use of adative optics, weather mapping, cartography, etc.

CARTOSAT 2D :-

CARTOSAT 2D was launched by PSLV-C37 on February 15, 2017 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. 

CARTOSAT 2E :-

CARTOSAT 2E was launched by PSLV-C38 on June 23, 2017, along with 30 other nano satellites.

CARTOSAT 2F :-

CARTOSAT 2F was launched by PSLV-C40 on January 12, 2018 along with 30 nano satellites from India, Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and the USA.

CARTOSAT 3 :-

CARTOSAT 3 satellite is a third generation advanced Indian Earth observation satellite, built and operated by ISRO. It has a panchromatic (PAN) camera resolution of 0.25 m, this means it can pick up an object of a minimum of that size from a height of around 500 km. The satellite was placed in an orbit of 509 km at an inclination of 97.5 degree. PSLV-C47 launched CARTOSAT 3 and 13 commercial nano satellites into Sun Synchronous Orbit on November 27, 2019 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch mass of CARTOSAT 3 is 1,625 kg and it's mission duration is 5 years. According to ISRO, 12 of the US nano satellites, named as FLOCK-4P are earth observation satellites and the 13th is called MESHED, a communication test bed satellite.

Mr. Sivan said "CARTOSAT 3 is the Indian highest resolution civilian satellite and the most complex and advanced earth observation satellite ISRO has built so far".

I would like to thank ISRO official website, Wikipedia and study iq for helping me to get all the informations and I would like to congratulate Team ISRO for this enormous achievement.

Thank You.

Chhath Puja | The Main Attraction Thekua

History of Chhath Puja:

It is said that the rituals of Chhath Puja may is mentioned in the Rigveda features hymns adulating the Lord Surya. The custom also find a reference in Mahabharat, in which Draupadi is described as observing the rituals. According to Mahabharat, Draupadi and Pandavas - the rulers of Indraprastha, performed the rituals of Chhath Puja on the recommendation of noble sage Dhaumya. After the adulation of Lord Surya, Draupadi not just came out of all her troubles, but also helped the Pandavas to regain their lost kingdom.

Chhath Puja:

Chhath is an ancient Hindu vedic festival, native to the Indian state of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar pradesh and the Madhesh region of Nepal. The Chhath Puja is dedicated to God Sun and his sister Shashti Devi. The rituals of the festival are stringent and are observed for a period of four days. 

They include the first day of Chhath Puja is called as Nahay - Khay means bath and eat. On this day worshipers (Parvaitin) take a holy bath and take only one meal all through the day. The meal includes Kaddu Bhaat with Channa dal (gram pulses) and bachka. These meals are made without the use of onion, garlic and common salt.

Te second day of the festival is called Kharna. On this day worshipers observe a fast for the whole day and in the evening they prepare special prasad Kheer (rice cooked in milk and jaggery), roti and fruits mainly banana. This prasad is offered to Chhathi Maiya and that worshipers break their fast by eating the prasad. Later the prasad is distributed among family and friends. 

The third day of Chhath Puja is Shandhya Arghya (evening worship). The whole day goes in preparing Thekua and arranging fruits. Worshipers and all the family members wear new clothes and gather at the bank of river or pond. They sing songs related to Chhath Puja and at the time when sun sets, they offer evening arghya (prayer) to Lord Surya. 

The fourth and last day is called Bhor Arghya (morning prayer) and Paran. On this day day worshipers and all family members again go to same river bank or pond bank to offer morning arghya. This arghya is offered to the rising sun and the grand Chhath Puja ends here. After returning home, worshipers break their fast by eating ginger, jaggery and drinking water. After that they eat delicious food i.e., five types of vegetables (Kohra, Kaddu, Channa, Saag, Muli) with rice, channa dal and bachka. 

The worshipers prays for the well-being of their family and prosperity of their offspring. The prasad includes Kheer, Thekua, Rice-laddu (made with rice flour and jaggery) and fruits i.e., sugercane, coconut, banana, pineapple and all seasonal fruits offered in a bamboo soop.

Chhath is also celebrated in summer, on Chaitra Shashthi, is called Chaiti Chhath.

The Main Attraction Thekua:

Thekua is a prasad in Chhath Puja. The main ingredients of thekua are wheat flour, chasni of melted sugar or jaggery, ghee and cardamom. Dough is prepared by using these four ingredients. Dough is shaped into small cookies and then deep fried in ghee or vegetable oil till it become reddish brown. It is soft when hot and harden after it cools. It can be preserved for many days for eating.

              May this Chhath Puja mark the beginning of life, fortune and success for you.

                      Be blessed by God Sun.