RISAT-2
| Mission type | Radar imaging |
|---|---|
| Operator |
Indian Air Force ISRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-019A |
| SATCAT no. | 34807 |
| Website | www |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer |
ISRO IAI |
| Launch mass | 300 kilograms (660 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 April 2009, 01:15 UTC |
| Rocket | PSLV-CA C12 |
| Launch site | Satish Dhawan SLP |
| Contractor | ISRO |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-Synchronous |
| Perigee | 422 kilometres (262 mi) |
| Apogee | 434 kilometres (270 mi) |
| Inclination | 41.21 degrees |
| Period | 93.00 minutes |
| Epoch | 2 January 2014, 23:31:52 UTC |
RISAT-2, or Radar Imaging Satellite 2 is an Indian radar reconnaissance satellite that is part of India's RISAT programme. It was built by Israel Aerospace Industries and successfully launched aboard a PSLV-CA rocket at 01:15 GMT on April 20, 2009 from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
RISAT-2's main sensor is an X-band synthetic aperture radar from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed to monitor India's borders and as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. The satellite has a mass of 300 kilograms (660 lb).
RISAT-2 is India's first heavy satellite with a synthetic aperture radar. It possess day-night as well as all-weather monitoring capability. Potential applications include tracking hostile ships at sea that are deemed a military threat to India.
Though ISRO sought to underplay the satellite's defence applications in its announcements, a substantial number of articles concerning RISAT-2 in the Indian media continue to refer to it as a "spy satellite". However, the Government of India and the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) official website have repeatedly emphasized that RISAT-2 will enhance that organization's capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and aid Indian authorities in conducting disaster management in more effective ways. Doordarshan, India's extensive state-run television network, did not provide a live telecast of the launch.
RISAT-2 was built at an accelerated pace following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, due to Indian army but however due to delay with the indigenously developed C band for RISAT-1. It is India's first dedicated reconnaissance satellite.
...
Wikipedia