ISRO Successfully Launches RISAT-2B Surveillance Satellite, can pierce cloud cover

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on May 22, 2019 scripted history by successfully launching the  RISAT-2B Earth Observation Satellite that would enhance the country’s surveillance capabilities among others. This launch of the PSLV also marked the third launch in 2019. The other two were the PSLV-C45/EMISAT mission, on April 1, and the PSLV-C44, on January 24.   

“RISAT-2B” (Radar Imaging Satellite-2B), launched from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission has a life of 5 years, will be used in the fields of agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.

 Important points:

• It would replace the RISAT-2, which was successfully launched in 2009.
• RISAT-2B is the third satellite in the series. The first, RISAT- 2 was launched in 2009 followed by RISAT-1 , a microwave remote sensing satellite, on April 26, 2012 from Sriharikota.
• The 615 kg satellite was launched into space on-board the PSLV-C 46. It was the 48th flight of PSLV.
• RISAT-2B, meant for application in fields such as surveillance, agriculture, forestry and disaster management support, was released into the orbit around 15 minutes after the lift-off.
• It was the 72nd launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota and also marked the 36th launch from the first launch pad.