India Thursday successfully launched its home-made remote
sensing spy Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) from the spaceport
of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, sources
said. The spy satellite would be used for disaster prediction
and agriculture forestry as well as for defense purposes. The
satellite has been made by scientists at Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). It was launched using Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV). It can acquire data at C-band and capable
of observation on all weather, day and night conditions. "This
is not only the first radar imaging satellite to be built by
India but this is the heaviest remote-sensing satellite built by
the ISRO. Besides, it is the heaviest satellite to be put in
orbit by the PSLV, " said an Indian official earlier this week.
"RISAT-1 weighs 1858 kg. The satellite's propulsion system will
then be used to take it to the final orbit at an altitude of 536
km," said ISRO spokesman S. Satish.