NEWS
Delivering a big boost to its space-based surveillance capabilities, on April 20, India launched the RISAT-2, an all-weather surveillance satellite that will help security agencies keep a vigil on the country’s borders. Indian Space Research Organisation’s workhorse, PSLV-C12 rocket, soared majestically into a clear sky at 0645 hours from the Sriharikota space launch base and placed India’s first Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) and a co-traveller, micro educational satellite ANUSAT, into orbit about 19 minutes later in a textbook launch. Jubilant ISRO Chairman G.M. 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.

VIEWS
Elated by the perfect lift-off of the PSLV rocket, ISRO’s top man Madhavan Nair was as enthused as any cricket buff after watching his team win. At the postlaunch media brief, Nair pointed out that the performance of the launch vehicle was precise and on the dot. As in the past, we declared the launch date and time, and we made it happen. The 15th successful flight of the PSLV bolstered its reputation as the ISRO’s workhorse that has so far put in space a total of 30 satellites—14 for India and 16 for foreign countries—since 1993.

Nair, however, had other reasons to be pleased. Along with a small 40 kg experimental educational satellite ANUSAT, the PSLV put into orbit a very precious and vital cargo, the RISAT-2, India’s first radar imaging satellite to give the country much needed persistent, all-weather and meaningful surveillance capability from above. Shocked by the terrorists’ 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, this satellite was developed on a war footing to plug the holes in India’s surveillance capabilities. India’s trusted and reliable defence partner Israel responded promptly, enabling ISRO to develop the 300 kg radar imaging satellite in record time with the help of Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI) defence firm. IAI provided substantial components for the satellite, including the most vital Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The SAR is the very heart of the satellite, affording it all-weather capability with sub-metre resolution. Unlike India’s other surveillance satellites which are highly handicapped by bad weather conditions, the SAR payload can take images during day, night and all weather conditions, including upper cloud cover. In its secondary role, the satellite has good application in the area of disaster management and in managing cyclones, floods and agriculture-related activities.

Nair, however, had other reasons to be pleased. Along with a small 40 kg experimental educational satellite ANUSAT, the PSLV put into orbit a very precious and vital cargo, the RISAT-2, India’s first radar imaging satellite to give the country much needed persistent, all-weather and meaningful surveillance capability from above. Shocked by the terrorists’ 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, this satellite was developed on a war footing to plug the holes in India’s surveillance capabilities. India’s trusted and reliable defence partner Israel responded promptly, enabling ISRO to develop the 300 kg radar imaging satellite in record time with the help of Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI) defence firm. IAI provided substantial components for the satellite, including the most vital Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The SAR is the very heart of the satellite, affording it all-weather capability with sub-metre resolution. Unlike India’s other surveillance satellites which are highly handicapped by bad weather conditions, the SAR payload can take images during day, night and all weather conditions, including upper cloud cover. In its secondary role, the satellite has good application in the area of disaster management and in managing cyclones, floods and agriculture-related activities.

RISAT-2 is much like the Israeli TecSAR or TechSAR spy satellite which, incidentally, went into orbit aboard India’s PSLV-C10 on January 21 last year. India is also all set to launch another TecSAR of Israel in September this year. Israel has been launching its satellites of Eros, Ofek and Amos class into space using its own Shavit-I/II rockets. But owing to serious limitations of launching satellites from its own territory and for commercial reasons, it chose to negotiate with ISRO’s business arm, Antrix Corporation, to launch its TecSAR satellites. RISAT-2 illustrates the growing tie up in the field of space between the two countries and will give surveillance capabilities to India which are similar to that of TecSAR.