News Excerpt:

TASL announces successful deployment of sub-metre resolution optical satellite TSAT-1A.

Key points about Tata Advanced Systems' TSAT-1A satellite deployment:

• Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) successfully deployed its sub-metre resolution optical satellite, TSAT-1A, in space.
• The satellite was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, U.S.
• The Bandwagon-1 mission was SpaceX's first dedicated rideshare mission launched into a mid-inclination orbit, offering a higher revisit rate for satellite imaging.
• The deployment is a result of TASL's collaboration with Satellogic, leveraging their expertise in developing and integrating earth observation satellites.

Applications:

• TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities.

Why is it dubbed as a military satellite?

• Delivers high-resolution imagery with precision less than 1 meter per pixel, suitable for military/defense applications
• Primary customers are the government and armed forces
• India possesses a limited number of military spy satellites developed by ISRO.
• TASL intends to establish a constellation of similar satellites in the future, with its manufacturing facility primed to produce up to 25 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites for military purpose
• The necessity for high-resolution imagery has heightened following conflicts with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 
• This implies that TSAT-1A's capabilities are intended to support India's military and defense operations in regions of heightened tensions or conflicts.

The satellite was assembled at TASL's Assembly, Integration, and Testing plant in Vemagal, Karnataka.In addition to TSAT-1A, the mission carried 11 other spacecraft, including those from Korea, HawkEye 360, Tyvak International, iQPS, and Capella Space.