A successful launch - and a first among Indian Universities :D

Here's a PTI report on the launch of India's RISAT-2 and AnuSat. The RISAT-2 has an Israeli built module that apparently gives it an extremely high resolution eye-in-the-sky capability, but authorities are still denying its a spy satellite.

AnuSat is a micro-satellite that was built by the Madras Institute of Technology, a constituent college of Anna University (the guy who wrote it put in 'affiliated to' in the report, that ain't right). That's where I study and for once, I'm proud of it!!! Three cheers to the students and professors who put their heart and soul in the project.

At the end of the article I've put in a video of ISRO Chairman, Madhavan Nair, speaking after the launch.

RISAT and ANUSAT satellites placed in orbit

Press Trust of India / Sriharikota (ap) April 20, 2009, 11:58 IST

Aiming to bolster India's defence surveillance capabilities, ISRO today successfully launched its first all-weather spy satellite that will help security agencies keep a watch on the movements on the borders, from its spaceport here.

The PSLV-C12, carrying 300-kg Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) and 40-kg micro educational satellite ANUSAT lifted off from ISRO's Satish Dhawan space Centre here at 6:45 am and placed into 550 km orbit around earth.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, weighing 230 tonnes at the time of launch, soared into a clear sky from the spaceport here, about 90 km north of Chennai.

At the end of the 48-hour countdown, the 44-meter tall four-stage PSLV-C12 blasted off from the second launch pad with the ignition of the core first stage.

RISAT has all-weather capability to take images of the Earth and would also be beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, besides amplifying defence surveillance capabilities of the nation. It would also help keep track of ships at seat that could pose a threat.

As per specifications, RISAT is different from previous remote sensing satellites as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures.

The 40 kg micro satellite ANUSAT, the co-passenger of RISAT 2, has been built by Anna University, to demonstrate the technologies related to message store and forward operations.

ANUSAT, the first built by an Indian University, is a 'store-and-forward' communication satellite that will help transfer confidential academic material and also monitor drought and wasteland, urban planning and other studies.

RISAT2 has a lifespan of three years and ANUSAT, one year.

Different from previous remote sensing satellites, RISAT2 uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas, to receive signals which are processed into high-resolution pictures.

The SAR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, equips RISAT with defence capabilities. The SAR payload can take images during day, night and in all weather conditions, including under cloud cover, a capability that Indian satellites do not have.

Nair said ISRO has "big goals" to achieve this year, referring to the line up of ISRO launches. "All this put together... It is going to be almost like the fireworks season at Sriharikota."

Today's is the 15th flight of PSLV, which has so far launched 30 satellites-- 14 for India and 16 for foreign countries -- since 1993.

PSLV had also launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on October 22 last year.