ISRO launched its first Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT)-2 aboard a C12 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite is expected to enhance India’s defence surveillance capabilities1. It is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). SAR is equipped with several antennas that receive multiple signals that are processed into high-resolution photographic images. Although ISRO Chairman K. Madhavan Nair denied that RISAT-2 is a spy satellite, analysts noted that SAR’s features give it enhanced imaging capabilities2.

In addition to the RISAT, ISRO also launched the 40 kg ANUSAT educational micro-satellite from the same launch vehicle. With this launch, ISRO has launched 16 foreign-built satellites3. All of ISRO’s satellites launched from the workhorse PSLV have been within the 500 kg weight category.

• 1. “Spy Satellite Takes of From Sriharikota,” Times of India, April 20, 2009, at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Spy_satellite_RISAT_takes_off_from_Sr...
• 2. “RISAT-2 Not a Spy Satellite: ISRO Chief,” Times of India, April 20, 2009, at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/RISAT-2-not-a-spy-satellite-ISR...
• 3. “ISRO’s Workhorse PSLV Does it Again,” Yahoo India News, April 20, 2009, at http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090420/860/ttc-isro-s-workhorse-pslv-does-...