Neo_Arch

India launches key spy satellite
Indian rocket launch
The rocket is launched from Sriharikota, 90km north of Chennai

India says it has successfully launched a spy satellite that will be able to track movement on its borders.

The Israeli-built Radar Imaging Satellite was launched from the space centre at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state.

The satellite was carried on the Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV-C12 rocket.

India has an ambitious space programme that last October saw its first unmanned mission to the Moon.

The 300kg satellite has been placed in orbit about 550km (340 miles) above the Earth.

Observers say monitoring the borders with Pakistan will be a key task given the strained relations in the wake of last November's Mumbai attacks.

The satellite can take images through all weather conditions and as well as defence duties it will be able to monitor natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

The satellite was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.

The rocket also contained the Anusat educational satellite, which will help transfer confidential material such as examination questions as well as track urban planning developments and the effects of drought.

In October India successfully launched its first unmanned lunar craft, Chandrayaan 1, to map the Moon's surface and look for traces of water and the presence of helium.

The mission was regarded as a major step for India as it sought to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia.

tankie

Lets hope it helps track the great unwashed scumbag terrorists

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TANKIE

WITHOUT WAX

nebula82

Looks like defence ties between Israel & India have reached a new high…?

Israel's defence industry & India's space program are thriving.

Very good development, I’m sure India will get results out of this. More will definitely be needed though.

Nebula82.

Neo_Arch

Now the ISRO Chief says that its not a spy satellite and is meant for purpose restricted only to ISRO. Can anyone please put some more details for the same?

n21

Tankie,
It is a SAR satellite. They would be keeping eye on more important things

tankie

Yes mate , thats why i said , i hope it helps , obviously not its prime gig , but it will be used methinks when required ,

Dreadnought

Maybe you guys can go on national News and show it in orbit and call upon North Korea to do the same since they claim there is such a farse. There are some really stupid people out there that do believe them too.

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Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

Tronic

Most likely it will be used by RAW's ARC wing. Other than that, don't go by media reports for details, they're seldom accurate when it comes to defense related things.

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Nabha Sparasham Deeptam
-Touch The Sky With Glory

Tajmahal

Yeah! usually they show live telecast of launches from SDSC but this time there was no telecast at all! Above all every time they release detail brochure and images of the satellites, again this time no such thing!! ISRO chief told that this satellite will be used for disaster management but until now they didnt released any pic from the satellite!! I dont think they will do that in future also just like other Indian remote sensing satellites....

srirath

For a country of Indias stature piggy riding on Israels technology is a shame. Its high time we do some thing of our own . We have the largest technical manpower so to boast in the world, what for!

Officer of Engineers

Why? They've done their homework. You haven't.

It's a learning curve thing. Are you going to spend your money, time, and effort duplicating someone else's work ... or are you going to be smart about it and work together?

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Chimo

n21

Relax,
There is a reason this satellite is called RISAT-2. Please note they are yet to launch RISAT-1. It is been developed and would be launched end of the year.

Will that satisfy your craving for "doing something on our own"?

Also note,India can now conveniently launch Israeli payload with a tag "this is Israeli satellite for Indian defense forces" without actually reveling the actual user! That should keep the Commie's monkeys off the backside.