IRS 1C and 1D (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite) were the second version of the series of indigenous state-of-art remote sensing satellites.

These satellites carried payloads with enhanced capabilities like better spatial resolution additional spectral band, improved repetitivity and augment the remote sensing capability of the first generation IRS-1A and IRS-1B. The payload consisted of three solid state push broom cameras.

Skipper was an international project initiated by BMDO to measure the bow-shock UV emissions from reentering bodies at different speeds and heights.

Skipper was the third mission in BMDO's Bowshock program. The first two Bowshock missions were suborbital flights on sounding rockets.

The instruments and the bus were built in the USA by the Space Dynamics Laboratory, while the propulsion module, solar power systems were built in Russia by Moscow Aviation Institute (RIAME/MAI).