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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully launched the Radio Imaging Satellite -1 (RISAT-1) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Moments after the launch, ISRO chairman Dr. K Radhakrishnan termed the mission as a “grand success”. “PSLV-C19 has successfully injected India ’s first indigenous radar imaging satellite RISAT-1 into orbit. It is a proud moment for India ,” said Dr. Radhakrishnan. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C19 carrying the RISAT-1 successfully lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh at 5.47 am. RISAT-1, is the first of the RISAT series of Indian remote sensing satellites built by the ISRO, which uses the indegineously built C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather earth observation. According to ISRO, RISAT-1, which weighs at 1,850 kilograms, is the heaviest microwave satellite built by India . The all weather RISAT-1 has day and night viewing capacity which will be unhindered by cloud cover. It will help in crop monitoring and flood forecasting during Kharif season.

ISRO successfully launches RISAT-1