RISAT-2, ANUSAT launched into orbit

Boosting India's defence surveillance capabilities, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Monday launched its first all-weather spy satellite, the Israel-built RISAT-2, from its Sriharikota spaceport in Tamil Nadu. (See: India's high-tech spy satellite to go aloft Monday) 

The launch vehicle was ISRO's workhorse PSLV-C12, the latest version of the indigenous polar satellite launch vehicle that has been a proven success. Along with the 300-kg radar imaging satellite, it also carried the student-built 40-kg micro educational satellite ANUSAT. The PSLV lifted off from ISRO's Satish Dhawan space Centre at 6:45 am.

The RISAT is a radar-imaging satellite used for remote-sensing, which can take pictures of the earth 24 hours of the day, through rain and cloud. It  has all-weather capability to take images of the earth, and will primarily keep an eye on the country's borders round the clock and help in anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations.

Though ISRO has previously launched imaging satellites, none have such a versatile, 24x7 capability, through rain and cloud. India acquired the RISAT from Israel for its use, as the indigenously developed version is slated for launch only at the end of the year, or even early next year.

It would also be beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, besides amplifying defence surveillance capabilities. It would also help keep track of ships at seat that could pose a threat.

The RISAT is different from previous remote sensing satellites as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures.

The 40-kg micro satellite ANUSAT, the co-passenger of RISAT 2, has been built by Anna University and is a 'store-and-forward' communication satellite that will help transfer confidential academic material and also monitor drought and wasteland, urban planning and other studies. (See: ISRO to launch student-made nano satellites)

RISAT2 has a lifespan of three years and ANUSAT of one year. The SAR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, can take images during day or night and in all weather conditions, including under cloud cover, a capability that Indian satellites currently do not have.

Jubilant ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said, "The year 2009 has started off well. The final moments of the launch were more thrilling than a cricket match as we hit a few boundaries and bowled some googlies."

He added that ISRO has "big goals" to achieve this year, referring to the line up of ISRO launches. "All this put together... It is going to be almost like the fireworks season at Sriharikota."

Monday's is the 15th flight of the PSLV, which has so far launched 30 satellites - 14 for India and 16 for foreign countries - since 1993. It also launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on 22 October last year.

Nair said the performance of the PSLV-C12 launch vehicle was "precise and on the dot".

"Again, we have set a record. As in the past, we declared the launch date, time and we made it happen."