ISRO launches its earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1

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Indian Space Research Organization’s trusted workhorse the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle achieved a landmark today with its 50th mission lifting off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

PSLV C-48  took off into a clear sunlit sky at 1525 hrs and launched earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 into it’s planned orbit 16 minutes 23.3 seconds later.

The first customer satellite separated at 17 minutes 23.3 seconds and the last customer satellite at 21 minutes 16.9 seconds to complete the mission.

In his address from the Mission Control Centre on the occasion, ISRO Chairman Dr. N. Sivan said, the 50th PSLV mission had successfully injected RISAT-2BR1 and nine customer satellites precisely into a 576 kilometres orbit.

Another landmark was that the mission was the 75th launch from the spaceport of India- the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Pointing out that the PSLV was a versatile rocket with five variants, Dr Sivan said, it had lifted payloads ranging in weight from 850 kilograms to 1.9 tonnes.

He paid tribute to the exemplary leaders responsible for creating what he called a wonderful vehicle.
He also released a bookmarking PSLV’s achievements in its 26-year history.

The 628-kilogram RISAT-2BR1 is the second radar imaging satellite in the RISAT-2B series and along with the CARTOSAT-3 is part of a group of satellites that will boost India’s earth imaging capabilities from space.

The satellite will help in agriculture, mining, forestry and coastal management, soil monitoring, disaster management support and round the clock border surveillance.

The RISAT satellites are equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that can take pictures of the earth during day and night and also under cloudy conditions.

RISAT-2BR1 has a powerful resolution allowing two objects separated by 35-centimetre distance to be distinctly identified and will cover a swathe of 5 to 10 kilometres.

PSLV-C48 also carried nine customer satellites including one each from Israel, Italy and Japan and six from the USA as co-passengers. The international customer satellites were launched under a pact with NewSpace India Limited, ISRO’s commercial arm.

The first satellite in the RISAT-2B series was launched earlier this year to replace the ageing RISAT-2.

The RISAT-2BR1 will be followed by two more satellites of the same series next year to complete a quartet of satellites with advanced earth imaging abilities.