ISRO will launch radar-imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 with the help of PSLV-C48 rocket from Sriharikota at 3.25 pm on Dec 11. PSLV-C48 will also launch nine commercial satellites - Israel (1), Italy (1), Japan (1) and US (6) - along with the primary payload from the first launchpad of the Sriharkota spaceport next Wednesday

NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch radar-imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2BR1 with the help of PSLV-C48 rocket from Sriharikota at 3.25pm on December 11 to boost the country’s space-surveillance capability.

PSLV-C48 will also launch nine commercial satellites - Israel (1), Italy (1), Japan (1) and US (6) - along with the primary payload from the first launchpad of the Sriharkota spaceport next Wednesday. This will be PSLV's 50th mission.

ISRO plans to launch four to five advanced RISAT-series satellites, of which one was launched on May 22 and the third one after RISAT-2BR1 will be launched in the second half of this month.

“Having four RISAT satellites in space will help security forces keep surveillance on a particular spot on a daily basis,” a source in ISRO said. The bunch of RISAT satellites, which can see through clouds and at night too, will do 24x7 border surveillance and help check infiltration and keep an eye on terror activities across the borders. Images of the older version of RISAT were used to plan the surgical strike on terror launchpads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in 2016.

RISAT-2BR1 has an X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with radial rib reflector 3.6 m mesh antenna. The radar system is an advanced desi version of the Israeli TECSAR 1 system. The satellite has a powerful 0.35m resolution (two objects separated by 35 cm will be distinctly identified) and will cover swath of 5 to 10 km. Weighing 628 kg, RISAT-2BR1 has a mission life of five years and will be placed in the polar orbit at 546 km altitude at an inclination of 37 degree.

Besides its surveillance capabilities, the all-weather satellite with its SAR will send clear images for their use in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.

The contract for the nine commercial satellites was taken by ISRO's newly formed commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd like the commercial deal for 13 foreign satellites in the the previous mission.

Earlier on May 22, ISRO had successfully launched RISAT-2B, same version of the surveillance satellite, which replaced the old RISAT-2 after it completed its five-year lifespan. After RISAT-2BR1 launch on December 11, the agency will launch RISAT-2BR2 in the second half of this month. PSLV-C48 is the 2nd flight of PSLV in 'QL' configuration (with 4 strap-on motors). This will be the 75th launch vehicle mission from SHAR and 37th launch from the first launchpad.