RISAT-2
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(Reconnaissance and disaster management)
ISRO
| Names | Radar Imaging Satellite-2 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Radar imaging (Reconnaissance and disaster management) |
| Operator | Indian Air Force ISRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-019A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 34807 |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | Planned: 5 years Final: 13 years, 6 months and 9 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | RISAT-2 |
| Bus | OptSat-2000 |
| Manufacturer | ISRO (satellite) IAI (SAR radar) |
| Launch mass | 300 kg (660 lb) |
| Power | 750 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 April 2009, 01:15:00 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | PSLV-CA (PSLV-C12) |
| Launch site | Satish Dhawan, SLP |
| Contractor | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 30 October 2022, 00:06 UTC[3][4] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Altitude | 548 km (341 mi) |
| Inclination | 41.0° |
| Period | 90.0 minutes |
RISAT-2, or Radar Imaging Satellite-2 was an Indian radar imaging reconnaissance satellite that was part of India's RISAT programme. It was procured from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)[5][6] and successfully launched aboard a PSLV-CA launch vehicle at 01:15:00 UTC on 20 April 2009 from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.[7]
It is designed to monitor India's borders and as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations.[8] The satellite has a mass of 300 kg (660 lb).
RISAT-2 was procured following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, due to delay with the indigenously developed C-band for RISAT-1. It is India's first dedicated radar reconnaissance satellite.[9] RISAT-2 was procured at a cost of USD 200 million from Israel. In terms of configuration and capability it is identical to TecSAR-1 launched in 2008 by ISRO's PSLV which marked the beginning of India-Israel space cooperation.[5][6][10]
Technical capabilities
RISAT-2 was India's first satellite with a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). 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.[11]
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".[12] This is also supported by the fact that its Israeli sensor is clearly pronounced a military grade sensor by its manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).[5][6]
Launch
ISRO scientists spent tense hours on 19 April 2009 prior to launch as one of the umbilical cords holding the PSLV-CA launch vehicle to the launch pad fell off, damaging nearly six connectors.[13]
ANUSAT satellite
The ANUSAT student microsatellite (40 kg) was launched aboard the same launch vehicle as a secondary payload.
