The Disturbed and quiet time Ionosphere-thermosphere System at High Altitudes (DISHA) is a proposed twin satellite aeronomy mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It will study the effects of space weather events on the uppermost layers of Earth's atmosphere.[1][2][3] The mission will consist of two small satellites namely DISHA-H and DISHA-L in high and low inclinations for simultaneous observation in polar and equatorial regions.[4] DISHA satellites will have expected mission life of 5 years with at least 3 years of combined operations[5] and are expecting readiness by 2024–25.[6][needs update]

DISHA
NamesDISHA-H and DISHA-L
Mission typeAeronomy
OperatorISRO
Mission durationPlanned: 5 years (with 3 years of combined operations)
Start of mission
Launch datePlanned: 2024-25
Launch siteSDSC-SHAR
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLEO
Perigee altitude400-450 km
Apogee altitude400-450 km
InclinationDISHA-H: ~85.0°
DISHA-L: 25.0°
Period92.5 minutes
Instruments
Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NM)
Airglow Photometer (AP)
Drift Meter (DM)
Auroral X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (AXIS)
High frequency Langmuir Probe (LM)
Electron Temperature Analyser (ETA)
Upper Atmosphere Visible Airglow Spectral Imager (UrVASI)

Payloads

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DISHA-H and DISHA-L are similar in configuration with six common payloads each. But while DISHA-L has all of its six scientific payloads on fixed platform, DISHA-H has an additional scientific payload called Auroral X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (AXIS) and all seven of them are positioned on a rotatable deck to meet data transmission requirements.[5]

  • Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NMS) by Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) to measure neutral composition (1-300 amu) with 10° FOV[5]
  • Airglow Photometer (AP): Narrow bandwidth (0.03 nm) photometer by PRL with 3° FOV to measure nightside airglow emissions in two wavelengths (630 nm, 777.4 nm).[5]
  • Drift meter: Ion drift meter with retarding potential analyser (1 to 40 amu) by PRL and SAC with 45° FOV.[5]
  • Auroral X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (AXIS) by URSC and PRL is nadir facing soft X-ray spectrometer (0.3 to 2 KeV) with 110° FOV and 5 km resolution.[7]
  • High frequency Langmuir probe (LP): Two novel high frequency Langmuir probes developed by PRL to measure electron density and fluctuations. In double mounted configuration One probe will perform the sweep and other will monitor plasma potential.[5][4]
  • Electron Temperature Analyser (ETA) by SPL[5]
  • Upper Atmosphere Visible Airglow Spectral Imager (UrVASI) by SPL, by SAC and IIT Roorkee to measure nightglow emission from 80 to 500 km altitude range (2 km resolution) in two channels (585 to 595 nm, 530-780nm with 0.1 nm, 0.5 nm resolution) and 12° FOV[8][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Department of Space, Annual Report 2019-2020" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2021. There are proposals for two small satellites with high and low inclination named 'Disturbed and quiet time Ionosphere-thermosphere System at High Altitudes (DISHA)' which aims to study the effects in the Ionosphere-Thermosphere system during space weather events and normal condition of the Sun. The proposed DISHA mission will yield critical information on the structures in plasma and neutrals that adversely affect communication and navigation during space weather events. This will eventually help in a better description of influence of space weather on space based technological systems and sub-systems.
  2. ^ "Space Applications Centre: 'Aeronomy satellite in advanced planning stage'". The Times of India. October 23, 2018. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  3. ^ "Instruments onboard Chandrayaan-3 undergoing tests, readying for launch later this year: Former ISRO chief". The Indian Express. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  4. ^ a b ISRO Exploration Mission - Space Radiation Workshop-2022 Day 3 (Video). ARIES Nainital. 2022-01-26. Event occurs at 45 minutes 36 seconds.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Pallamraju, Duggirala (2022-05-10). DISHA H & L: ISRO's Proposed Twin Aeronomy Satellite mission (Video). Event occurs at 1 hour 05 minutes 22 seconds.
  6. ^ Jatiya, Satyanarayan (18 July 2019). "Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2955" (PDF). Retrieved 30 April 2023. Disturbed and quite-type Ionosphere System at High Altitude (DISHA) satellites are planned during 2024-25
  7. ^ "OU receives slice of £1m Government funding to enhance space technology". OU News. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  8. ^ "Space Physics Laboratory Annual Report 2019-20" (PDF). Retrieved 27 January 2022.