RISAT-2B

RISAT-2B
Names	Radar Imaging Satellite-2B
Mission type	Earth observation; Radar imaging satellite; disaster management)
Operator	ISRO
COSPAR ID	2019-028A
SATCAT no.	44233
Website	https://www.isro.gov.in/
Mission duration	5 years (planned); 5 years, 5 months and 5 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	RISAT-2B
Bus	RISAT
Manufacturer	Indian Space Research Organisation
Launch mass	615 kg (1,356 lb)
Power	2000 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	22 May 2019, 00:00 UTC
Rocket	Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-CA PSLV-C46
Launch site	Satish Dhawan Space Centre, First Launch Pad (FLP)
Contractor	Indian Space Research Organisation
Entered service	August 2019
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Sun-synchronous orbit
Altitude	555 km (345 mi)
Inclination	37.0°
Period	93.0 minutes
Instruments
	Synthetic Aperture Radar (X-band) (SAR-X)
	Earth observation satellites series ← Cartosat-2F Cartosat-3 →

RISAT-2B, or Radar Imaging Satellite-2B is an Indian radar reconnaissance satellite that is part of India's RISAT programme and the third satellite in the series. It is built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to replace RISAT-2.

Overview

RISAT-2B satellites will succeed India's ten-year-old RISAT-2 spacecraft. Equipped with X-band radar imagers, RISAT-2B monitors the Earth day and night, in any weather conditions. RISAT uses a technique called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to build images of the Earth below it. Signals transmitted from the satellite are reflected from the surface and its echo is recorded when it reaches back to the satellite. These signals can then be processed to build a profile of the ground below. The RISAT constellation is operated by the ISRO. While ISRO states the satellites applications as supporting agriculture, forestry and disaster management, their primary purpose is military surveillance.^[1]

RISAT-2B can operate in different modes including Very High Resolution Radar (VHRR) imaging modes of 1 × 0.5 m resolution and 0.5 × 0.3 m resolution. It is placed in an inclined orbit for better revisit rates over area of interest. Being a radar imaging satellite, RISAT-2B can image during day or night and in all weather conditions.^[2]

Satellite description

RISAT-2B's main sensor is an indigenously developed synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite operating in X-band with 3.6 m radial rib antenna. The satellite is utilized for high resolution spot imaging of locations of interest and it has a mass of 615 kg (1,356 lb).^[3]