India’s PSLV launches advanced surveillance satellite RISAT-2BR1

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the country’s most advanced surveillance satellite into orbit following its lift-off onboard the PSLV-C48 rocket.

The rocket launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dubbed the RISAT-2BR1, the radar imaging Earth observation satellite was joined by nine commercial satellites from Israel, Italy, Japan and US.

The mission marks the 50th for PSLV and the 75th from the Sriharikota launchpad.

ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan said: “Today, we achieved an important milestone in the history of PSLV by successfully launching its 50th mission.”

The nine satellites were launched into their intended orbits under a commercial arrangement with ISRO’s commercial business NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

The 628kg RISAT-2BR1 has a five-year life expectancy.

With the ability to identify two objects separated by just 35cm, the new satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management. It will also provide military-grade satellite images.

The RISAT-2BR1 was deployed into an orbit of 576km at an inclination of 37° to the Equator 16 minutes and 23 seconds after lift-off.

ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network has assumed control of the satellite, which will be brought to its final operational configuration in the next few days.

Earlier this year, ISRO launched the first satellite in the RISAT-2B series that replaced the RISAT-2.