RISAT-2 the Radar imaging satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – slso sends a educational satellite Anusat built by Anna University

RISAT-2 the Radar imaging satellite is launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday. Contrary to the earlier reports this satelite is not a spy satelite and is owned and operated by ISRO according to its chief who dismissed the reports labelling RISAT-2 a “spy satellite”. The PSLV rocket also sent (for the fisrt time in the history of Indian space) into orbit a micro-educational satellite Anusat built by Anna University with funding support from ISRO.

“This is an imaging satellite that can identify features on ground. There is nothing as a spy satellite. Though the satellite has a global coverage we will use it only for our use,” ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair told reporters at a post-launch press conference.

However, according to experts since the satellite’s synthetic aperture radar gives it day-night capability and the ability to look through clouds and fog, thus giving it defence applications. RISAT-2 has been positioned at a 41 degree inclination to enable it revisit a spot at frequent intervals.

India now joins a select group of countries in the world like Canada, Israel, Japan and a few others in having such a precision satellite.

He said the launch of Anusat has prompted six other educational institutions like IIT-Kanpur and VIT-Vellore to approach ISRO for building such satellites.

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