India and France Will Launch Water-Monitoring Satellite
The TRISHNA mission will use thermal infrared sensors to track global water stress starting in 2027.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Space
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India and France are developing the TRISHNA satellite to monitor Earth's water resources from a Sun-synchronous orbit. The mission is scheduled to launch from Sriharikota in 2027.
Why it matters
As global temperatures rise, this mission provides critical data on surface temperatures, vegetation stress, and evapotranspiration. It aims to address water scarcity by tracking physical and biological phenomena within the water cycle.
The satellite will operate at an altitude of over 700 kilometres and capture imagery with a resolution better than 60 metres. It will provide revisits several times a week to track rapid changes in Earth's water resources.
The players
Indian Space Research Organisation
The national space agency of India responsible for satellite development and launch operations via the Vikas engine.
CNES
The French space agency that develops orbital instrumentation and maintains long-term research partnerships with global space actors.
The details
The mission utilizes a collaborative architecture where the French space agency CNES supplies the thermal infrared instrument, while ISRO develops the optical payload. This setup allows for the mapping of water resources using thermal infrared wavelengths to detect heat signatures indicative of water stress. The satellite effectively succeeds the Megha-Tropiques mission, which launched in 2011 to study the tropical water cycle.
Timeline
1960s: Sounding rocket experiment cooperation began between ISRO and CNES.
2011: Megha-Tropiques satellite launched.
2026: India-France Year of Innovation.
2027: TRISHNA satellite scheduled to launch.
2030: Target for 30,000 Indian students in France.
The Tech Race
This mission continues the technical trajectory established by the Megha-Tropiques satellite mission. It represents a sustained collaborative research effort that has evolved from sounding rockets in the 1960s to high-resolution Earth observation.
This project is currently in the development phase with a launch planned for 2027. Scientists and climate researchers will eventually use the data to refine water management models as global temperatures continue to rise.
The takeaway
The TRISHNA mission highlights the growing reliance on international space partnerships to address climate-driven resource challenges. Observers should track the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation for further technical updates on the satellite's instrumentation.
Further reading
For more developments in satellite technology and orbital research, visit our Space section.
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Should nations prioritize joint international space missions to track climate change and water resources?
