India Scripted History on Wednesday morning by successfully launching a satellite “RISAT-2B’.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) used its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle designated PSLV-C46 on Wednesday morning to launch a new spy satellite named RISAT-2B.
The new satellite is introduction of all-weather; it is capable of keeping a lookout from space. RISAT-2B can take pictures in any weather, even in cloudy conditions. The RISAT, or radar imaging satellite, is equipped with a sensor known as ‘synthetic aperture radar’ that takes what are known as ‘radar images’.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, “This is a very, very important mission for India. It is an excellent satellite with hi-fi earth observation (capabilities).”
PSLV-C46 carrying Risat 2B which weighs 615kg was blasted off at 5.30 am from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre here on its 48th mission. The Radar Imaging Satellite-2B was successfully released into its orbit at about 15 minutes and 30 seconds after the lift-off.
Commenting on the launch from the Mission Control Centre, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said that the PSLV-C46 successfully injected RISAT-2B precisely in the designated orbit of 555 km, with an inclination of 37 degrees.
“This particular mission for PSLV is a very, very important mission. With this launch, PSLV lofts 50 tones to space by launching 354 satellites, including national, student and foreign satellites,” Sivan further added.
The ISRO chairman also said, “The PSLV-C46 carried two important piggyback payloads, an indigenously developed processor and a low cost Inertial Navigation System. It is going to revolutionize our future launch vehicle missions.”
Sivan said, “The RISAT-2B is an advanced earth observation satellite. In this satellite, another very complex new technology has flown. That is a 3.6 meter unfurl able radial rib antenna. This is also going to be the technology of the future.”
On future launches, “The next mission — Chandrayaan-2 — is going to be a landmark mission for India. It is going to be the most complex mission ever undertaken by ISRO. It is going to take place between July 9 and July 16 this year,” he further added.
