PSLV’s golden jubilee flight to launch radar imaging sat

Tweeting the launch of the countdown from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, ISRO said the health parameters of the rocket looked good. While this is PSLV’s 50th mission, PSLV-C48 is the second flight of PSLV in ‘QL’ configuration. This will be the 75th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR and the 37th launch from the launch pad.

The radar imaging earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1, weighing around 628 kg, will be placed into an orbit of 576 km at an inclination of 37 degrees to the equator. The RISAT-2BR1, with a mission life of five years, is aimed at military purposes and to beef up the country’s border security through more “eyes from the sky”. Though ISRO did not reveal much on its “spy activities”, the RISAT-2BR1 will reportedly monitor the areas sharing border withother countries.

The satellite is also capable of taking sharp images from outer space even in overcast weather conditions. Apart from enhancing ISRO’s capability for disaster management applications, RISAT-2BR1 will also provide support in the field of agricultureand forestry.

The 44.4 m tall PSLV-C48 will also carry piggyback nine foreign satellites, that included six from the United States and one each from Israel, Italy and Japan. These international customer satellites are being launched under a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL).

ISRO had earlier launched surveillance satellite Risat-2B on May 22 and EMISAT (Electronic Intelligence Satellite) on April 1 using PSLV to help DRDO keep an eye on theenemy radars.

Both Risat-2BR1 and Risat-2BR2 would increase military’s surveillance capability as they have the capability to see through clouds and take images at night, besides monitor infiltration on the borders and terror activities.

A fourth RISAT-2B type satellite will be launched later to complete a quartet of spy satellites with advanced earth imaging abilities.

Till now, ISRO has successfully placed more than 300 foreign satellites into the required orbit and the success launch of PSLV-C48 will take thetally to 319.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Sivan offered prayers at the famous Venkateswara Swamy temple here on Tuesday morning ahead of the launch of the golden jubilee flight of PSLV.

The countdown for the launch of ‘sharp eyed’ radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 weighing 628 kg, and nine commercial satellites, by PSLV-C48 began at 16.40 hours from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

Speaking to media after darshan , Sivan said that PSLV C48 is a historic achievement by ISRO as this is the 50th launch for PSLV and the 75th launch from Sriharikota.

ISRO is gearing up for the launch of RISAT-2BR1 through PSLV C48, which will launch it from SDSC at 15.25 hours on Wednesday.

Earlier, the ISRO chief was offered Vedasirvachanam by the temple priests at Ranganayakula Mandapam and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials offered thirtha prasadams to the dignitary.