In focus: Risat-2B

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In focus: Risat-2B

Introduction

  • Risat-2B is the 3rd satellite to be launched in the Risat series after Risat-1 and Risat-2 launched in 2009 and 2012 respectively.
  • It is a radio imaging earth observation satellite.
  • It is placed in a 37-degree inclined Sun-synchronous polar orbit at a height of 555 km from earth surface.

Specification

  • Radio imaging satellite with X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
  • Expected life: 5 Years
  • 6m unfurlable radial rib antenna
  • The resolution of Risat-2B is less than 1 metre.

Features

  • The X-band SAR enables all-weather, day-night radio communication.
  • The unfurlable radial rib antenna technology (mobile communication) is primarily used to receive signals, modify them and retransmit back to a hand-held receiver on Earth.

 

Applications

  • The primary goal of Risat-2B is to boost India’s surveillance and strike capabilities.
    • Will be used to monitor activities across the border and in Indian Ocean.
    • Will help in arresting infiltration by terrorists
    • Will help in planning preemptive strikes on terror launchpads like surgical strikes and Balakot aerial strike.
  • Other applications include agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.

 

 

In brief: Risat Series

Introduction

  • Risat is short for radio imaging remote sensing satellite series of India.
  • They act as India’s ‘eyes in the sky’ and thus extremely significant in surveillance and reconnaissance efforts.

Concept

  • While an optical remote sensing uses light reflected by objects on earth surface to ‘sense and observe’, radio imaging remote sensing satellites beam a radio signal on the earth’s surface and ‘senses’ the radio signal reflected back.
  • As a result, radio imaging satellites are capable of remote sensing even at night or cloud cover or rain.

Risat series

  • ISRO has launched 3 satellites in the Risat series so far.
  • 2009 – Risat 2 – Launched in the aftermath of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack
  • 2012 – Risat 1- Assisted planning of the 2016 surgical strike along with Cartosat-2
    • Risat 2 was launched earlier as the indigenous C-band SAR to be used for RISAT-1 was not ready
  • 2019 – Risat 2B – Stepping up C4ISR security architecture
  • Further, ISRO has planned a dozen satellites in the Risat series by end of 2020 with 5 more in 2019.
  • The 5 Risat-series satellites due to be launched in 2109 include Risat-2BR1, Risat-2BR2, Risat-1A, Risat-1B and Risat-2A.
Section : Science & Tech