PSLV C46 rocket

NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro ) on Wednesday morning successfully launched PSLV-C46 carrying radar imaging earth observation satellite Risat-2B, which will help boost surveillance capabilities of the country. At 5.30 am, PSLV-C46 lifted off from the first launchpad of the Sriharikota launch centre and ejected the surveillance satellite into an inclined orbit of 555km altitude after around 15 minutes.

Talking to TOI hours before the launch, Isro chairman K Sivan said, “With its X-band synthetic aperture radar, Risat-2B can do earth observation day and night and even see through clouds.” Weighing 615kg, Risat-2B, which replaced Risat-2, will have a mission life of five years.

Sivan told TOI that “Isro will launch five Risat-series satellites in coming one year. These satellites will be of different types. We will launch Risat-2BR1, Risat-2BR2, Risat-1A and thereon Risat-1B and Risat2A."

With increased activities of infiltrators along the Pakistan border, India needs more “eye in the sky” to keep an eye on terrorist launchpads and their hideouts. The surveillance satellite will also help monitor the activities of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean. That is the reason why Isro, which had launched only two Risat satellites in the last 10 years, has decided to increase the count of radar imaging satellites with all-weather capabilities in space by launching almost half a dozen Risat satellites in the next one year.

India had earlier launched Risat-2 in 2009 and Risat-1 satellites in 2012, which helped security and intelligence agencies plan the September 2016 surgical strike on terror launchpads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and the Balakot aerial strike in February this year.

Risat-2B is lighter than Risat-1 but heavier than Risat-2, whose components India had imported from Israel in 2009, an Isro source said. The resolution of the new satellites will be better than 1 metre, the source said.

After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, Risat-2 satellite programme took priority over Risat-1 because of the advanced radar system and was launched in April 20, 2009 to boost surveillance capabilities of security forces. From over 500km altitude, the Risat satellites monitor Indian borders 24x7 and helps security agencies keep an eye on infiltrators and anti-terrorist operations.

Wednesday’s PSLV launch is the 72nd launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota and 36th launch from the first launchpad.

