RISAT-2
Encyclopedia
RISAT-2, or Radar Imaging Satellite 2 is an India
n radar reconnaissance satellite that is part of India's RISAT
programme. It was successfully launched aboard a PSLV-CA
at 01:15 GMT on April 20, 2009 from the Second Launch Pad
at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
. The ANUSAT
student microsatellite
was flown aboard the same rocket as a secondary payload.
The spacecraft was built by ISRO, with a primary sensor from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Israel offered the X-band synthetic aperture radar
to India in return for launch services for TecSAR
. These sensors allow RISAT-2 to return images at any time of day, and in any weather conditions.
RISAT-2 was built at an accelerated pace after 2008 Mumbai attacks
, due to delay with the indigenously developed C-band SAR for RISAT-1
. This is India's first dedicated reconnaissance satellite. It will be used to monitor India's border
s and as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. The satellite has a mass of 300 kilograms (661.4 lb).
. It has a day-night, all-weather monitoring capability. Potential applications include tracking hostile ships at sea that could pose a military threat.
sought to underplay the satellite's defence capabilities in its website and in its announcements, a majority of the media preferred to classify it as a spy satellite. ISRO's website claims that the satellite will enhance ISRO's capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and in disaster management in a more effective way.
In a significant deviation, India's state television Doordarshan
, did not telecast the launch live.
RISAT was pressed into service to search for the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh who was killed in a helicopter crash in the dense jungles of Andhra Pradesh on 02 Sep 2009.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n radar reconnaissance satellite that is part of India's RISAT
RISAT
RISAT is a series of Indian radar imaging reconnaissance satellites built by ISRO. They provide all-weather surveillance using synthetic aperture radars ....
programme. It was successfully launched aboard a PSLV-CA
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that...
at 01:15 GMT on April 20, 2009 from the Second Launch Pad
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad
The Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre is a rocket launch site in Sriharikota, India. It is the second of two launch pads at the centre, the other being the First Launch Pad...
at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is the launch centre for the Indian Space Research Organisation . It is located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, north of Chennai in South India. It was originally called Sriharikota High Altitude Range , and was sometime known as Sriharikota Launching Range...
. The ANUSAT
ANUSAT
The Anna University Satellite, or ANUSAT is an Indian student research microsatellite designed, developed & integrated at Aerospace Engineering, Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet, Anna University. It carries an amateur radio and technology demonstration experiments...
student microsatellite
Miniaturized satellite
Miniaturized satellites or small satellites are artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as small satellites, different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass .One reason for miniaturizing...
was flown aboard the same rocket as a secondary payload.
The spacecraft was built by ISRO, with a primary sensor from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Israel offered the X-band synthetic aperture radar
Synthetic aperture radar
Synthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
to India in return for launch services for TecSAR
TecSAR
TecSAR, also known as TechSAR, Polaris and Ofek-8, is an Israeli reconnaissance satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar developed by Elta Systems...
. These sensors allow RISAT-2 to return images at any time of day, and in any weather conditions.
RISAT-2 was built at an accelerated pace after 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
, due to delay with the indigenously developed C-band SAR for RISAT-1
RISAT-1
RISAT-1 is the first of the RISAT series of Indian remote sensing satellites built by the Indian Space Research Organisation . The satellite uses a Synthetic Aperture Radar for all-weather earth observation.While the RISAT-1 was the first satellite of the RISAT series to be built, it will be the...
. This is India's first dedicated reconnaissance satellite. It will be used to monitor India's border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
s and as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. The satellite has a mass of 300 kilograms (661.4 lb).
Technical capabilities
RISAT-2 is India's first satellite with a synthetic aperture radarSynthetic aperture radar
Synthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
. It has a day-night, all-weather monitoring capability. Potential applications include tracking hostile ships at sea that could pose a military threat.
Launch Problem
ISRO scientists spent tense hours on April 19, 2009 as one of the umbilical cords holding the rocket to the launch pad fell off, damaging nearly six connectors.Classification
Though the Indian Space Research OrganisationIndian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
sought to underplay the satellite's defence capabilities in its website and in its announcements, a majority of the media preferred to classify it as a spy satellite. ISRO's website claims that the satellite will enhance ISRO's capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and in disaster management in a more effective way.
In a significant deviation, India's state television Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
, did not telecast the launch live.
RISAT was pressed into service to search for the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh who was killed in a helicopter crash in the dense jungles of Andhra Pradesh on 02 Sep 2009.
See also
- Indian Space Research OrganisationIndian Space Research OrganisationThe Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
- List of Indian satellites
- Indo-Israeli relationsIndo-Israeli relationsIndo-Israeli relations refers to the bilateral ties between the the Republic of India and the State of Israel. The two countries enjoy an extensive economic, military and strategic relationship....