India launches spy satellite RISAT-2

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Apr 20 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday launched an all weather spy satellite at 6:45 a.m. from the spaceport in Sriharikota, boosting India's defence surveillance capabilities.

The PSLV-C12 rocket ascended towards the sky and placed its first Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT 2) and micro-educational satellite ANUSAT into orbit about 19 minutes later in a textbook launch.

The 300-kilogram spy satellite, Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2), was acquired by India from Israel recently. The satellite would mainly keep a watch on the country's borders round-the-clock and facilitate the anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations.

The Indian security forces were anticipating the launch of this much-needed satellite, specially after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as India's existing satellites get non-operational at night and in the monsoon season.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair expressed his hope on the bright future of the country's expanding defence surveillance potential. He said that the year 2009 has started on a good note.

Nair informed that the performance of the PSLV-C12 launch vehicle was accurate and on the dot.

"Again, we have set a record. As in the past, we declared the launch date, time and we made it happen," exclaimed Nair.

The RISAT-2 is a dedicated all-weather surveillance tool to take images of earth and would also help in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides.

It can take close-up pictures from its perch of over 500 kilometers above the earth of objects as small as a motorcycle. (ANI)