Watch: ISRO Successfully Launches RISAT-2BR1 Surveillance Satellite, Nine Foreign Satellites On Board PSLV-C48

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-QL (PSLV-QL) rocket carrying the countrya¿s advanced radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 and nine foreign satellites lifted off from the first launch pad of the rocket port in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday (11 December).

At about 3.25 pm, the 44.4 metre tall, rocket broke free of the first launch pad and started its upward one way journey carrying the 628 kg RISAT-2BR1 is an advanced radar imaging earth observation satellite.

To be placed in an orbit at an altitude of 576 kg the RISAT-2BR1 over its five year life span can look through the clouds and take sharp pictures.

While ISRO says the satellite will be used for agriculture, forestry and disaster management activities, it remains silent on RISAT-2BR1s strategic utility.

The Indian space agency officials used to say that they would supply the required images for various agencies which in turn would use the same as per their needs.

Piggybacking on the Indian satellite were nine foreign satellites from four countries- USA (multi-mission Lemur-4 satellites, technology demonstration Tyvak-0129, earth imaging 1HOPSAT), Israel (remote sensing Duchifat-3), Italy (search and rescue Tyvak-0092) and Japan (QPS-SAR - a radar imaging earth observation satellite) for an unknown fee contracted by NewSpace India Ltd, the new commercial arm of ISRO.

Till date, the ISRO has put into orbit 310 foreign satellites and with theis mission if successful, then that number will go up to 319.

The PSLV-QL is a four stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively. The rocket has four strap-on booster motors to give additional thrust during the initial flight stages.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)