RISAT-2

Why in news?

• ISRO’s RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) -2 has made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere at the predicted impact point in the Indian Ocean near Jakarta.

About RISAT:

• RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) is a series of Indian radar imaging reconnaissance satellites built by ISRO.
• They provide all-weather surveillance using synthetic aperture radars (SAR).
• The RISAT series are the first all-weather Earth observation satellites from ISRO.
• Previous Indian observation satellites relied primarily on optical and spectral sensors which were hampered by cloud cover.
• After 2008 Mumbai attacks, the launch plan was modified to launch RISAT-2 before RISAT-1, since the indigenous C-band SAR to be used for RISAT-1 was not ready.
• RISAT-2 used an Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) X-band SAR sensor similar to the one employed on TecSAR.

Add ons:

• RISAT-2 was launched by a PSLV rocket.
• It is placed under the Aerospace Command of the Indian Air Force.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding RISAT-2:

1. It provides all-weather surveillance using synthetic aperture radars

2. It is placed under the Aerospace Command of the Indian Air Force

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer