Sky is the limit: Why Risat-1 is so important to India

Sriharikota: With the launch of Risat-1, India has now joined a select group of nations who have access to microwave Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-1). The indigenously built Risat-1, with a life span of five years, will be used for disaster prediction and agriculture forestry. The high resolution pictures and microwave imaging from Risat-1 could also be used for defence purposes as it can look through clouds and fog. [caption id=“attachment_289197” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Risat-I launch propels India into an elite group of nations: Reuters”]  [/caption]At 5.47 a.m., the rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C19 (PSLV-C19) - standing 44.5 metres tall and weighing 321 tonnes was launched, ferrying the 1,858 kg Risat-1 after unshackling itself from launch pad No.1. Space scientists at the new rocket mission control room of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) were glued to their computer screens watching the rocket escaping the earth’s gravitational pull. The ISRO-made Risat-1 is the heaviest luggage ferried by a PSLV since 1993. At around 17 minutes into the flight, PSLV-C19 delivered Risat-1 into a polar circular orbit at an altitude of 480 km and an orbital inclination of 97.552 degrees. ISRO, with its network of ground stations, monitored its health. “PSLV-C19 mission is a grand success. This is the 20th successive successful flight of PSLV. India’s first radar imaging satellite was injected precisely into orbit,” ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan said after the launch. With this launch India joins a select group of nations like the US, Canada, Europe and others to have such an advanced technology. It is a 30-year effort, he added. “With Risat-1 we can now forecast Kharif season,” Radhakrishnan said. According to satellite director N. Valarmathi, Risat-1 can take images in all weather conditions and during day and night. “The satellite has high storage device and other several unique features,” she said. According to Radhakrishan, the satellite will be taken up to its intended orbit at an altitude of 536 km in three days time by firing its on-board motors. Remote sensing satellites send back pictures and other data for use. India has the largest constellation of remote sensing satellites in the world, providing imagery in a variety of spatial resolutions, from more than a metre ranging up to 500 metres, and is a major player in vending such data in the global market. In 2009, ISRO had launched the 300 kg Risat-2 with an Israeli built SAR enabling earth observation in all weather, day and night conditions. With Thursday’s launch the PSLV rocket has launched successfully 53 satellites out of 54 it carried - majorly remote sensing/earth observation satellites both Indian and foreign - and has been a major revenue earner for ISRO. For ISRO, this is the first launch this fiscal as well as in the calendar year. According to Radhakrishnan, the Indian space agency is planning more satellite launches - communication and remote sensing satellites - this year. He said the space agency would launch a communication satellite weighing 3.5 tonnes through the Ariane rocket from French Guiana as well as two PSLV missions later this year.