NEW DELHI – Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches RadarImaging Earth Observation Satellite along with Israeli satellite andAmerican client satellites.
on Wednesday launched a radar imaging earth observation satellite,RISAT-2BR1 and nine customer satellites by PSLV-C48 from Satish DhawanSpace Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. PSLV-C48, whichis the 50th mission of PSLV, launched RISAT-2BR1 from the First Launch Pad(FLP) at 3.25 pm (IST).
RISAT-2BR1 weighs about 628 kg and was placed into an orbit of 576 km at aninclination of 37 degrees. The nine customer satellites were alsosuccessfully placed in their designated orbit. ISRO states that the RISAT-2BR1 would be used for agriculture, forestry and disaster management.
The nine other satellites include six US satellites, besides one each fromIsrael, Italy and Japan and are co-passengers of the Indian satellite.
These international customer satellites are being launched under acommercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
Besides being the 50th launch of the PSLV, the launch marks severalmilestones for the ISRO- the second flight of PSLV in ‘QL’ configuration(with 4 strap-on motors).
This will be the 75th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikotaand 37th launch from the First Launchpad.