RISAT/CARTOSAT : India's Intelligence Satellites in Orbit

[kuku]

Indian National Satellite System - Science and Technology - Sectors: National Portal of India
Welcome To ISRO :: Satellites :: Geostationary
Indian National Satellite System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
domain-b.com : Dedicated communication satellite for Indian Navy
http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/13220721/Defence--Indian-Air-Force-to.html
Its really not that tough too google all of this, and a fiber optic network within India is a important step, the need for satellites dedicated to military is present with in a limited capacity, the Navy obviously needs one more than the other services.

 

[Armand2REP]

Indian National Satellite System - Science and Technology - Sectors: National Portal of India
Welcome To ISRO :: Satellites :: Geostationary
Indian National Satellite System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
domain-b.com : Dedicated communication satellite for Indian Navy
Defence | Indian Air Force to have its own satellite by 2010 - Economy and Politics - livemint.com
Its really not that tough too google all of this, and a fiber optic network within India is a important step, the need for satellites dedicated to military is present with in a limited capacity, the Navy obviously needs one more than the other services.

It really is tough when none of the links you provided say the Indian military has communication sats. If I didn't hear about Risat 1, I wouldn't know where to look. Don't give me the 'just google it' line... it is rude.

 

[p2prada]

You don't need satellties yet Mercury Thunder is the addition of satellites.

I understand your point. What the air force is trying to achieve is within the country itself. So, we will not be leaving our territory. We are not hegemonic, so a global level of network centricity is not being looked at in the near term.

The Navy is looking for complete centricity in the IOR and beyond only in 2022.

Fibre optics isn't any good if you don't have anything transmitting to it.

Don't understand what you are trying to convey. But I will explain nevertheless. The Fibre optic channel will connect all mil bases to the headquarters. All radars will be inter connected and the entire country's airspace will be displayed on a single screen at the headquarters. Commanders can also access this through computers at their respective bases. This increases situational awareness and increases reaction time.

At forward operation areas we will have transmitters which will follow the Microwave network route. It means we don't need a satellite over our heads at all times.

A satellite is definitely a good addition. But, unlike most other countries we do not have to worry a lot if our satellites are blown up.

High speed radio and microwave is only LOS to the ground nodes so unless your troops don't plan on leaving the network area they will need a satellite uplink.

The network area is not dependent on satellites alone. Microwave network will provide the necessary information to commanders at all times even outside the area. Don't forget that this is mainly capturing radar information and storing it in a single location. A radar is not defined by borders. Even a battlefield radar can transfer data through UAVs into the AFNET. Currently India is on a UAV building spree.

Also, read up on this.
India Building A Military Satellite Reconnaissance System

We cannot be entirely sure what kind of recce system we already have in place. It was setup in 2007. So, a comm system is not far.

Also, this:

Satellite Communication (SATCOM)

Conventional communication systems derived over field and permanent lines and radios could not be satisfactorily established over mountainous and snow-clad areas of borders in India . Hence the Corps has developed expertise and are already exploiting the latest facilities available by using INMARSAT, INSAT, LCT and ECTs in the low intensity conflict areas, INMARSAT has been used by the Corps of Signals units deputed for service in Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Cambodia and Angola.

Official Website of Indian Army

This is from the Indian Army's official website.

Not only do satellites provide a wider coverage area but they also handle more bandwidth and less prone to environmental interference than LOS transmitters.

Actually, anything wireless is jammable. The OFC channel in 100% unjammable.

If IAF are conducting strikes or IN is operating off the littoral it is a necessity.

IN is too far and cannot be discussed for a few more years. They will be the last to become fully network centric.

But, not IAF, as I have already mentioned. Radars don't have boundaries.

If troops are advancing outside the network they won't have time to lay cable and set up reciever stations.

You are talking about a different aspect in NCW. Also, Army is not ready yet.

Using cellular services increases bandwidth but it is immobile and subject to surface strike, as well as network ground nodes.

Even satellites require ground receivers which are setup in the CP(Command Post). These posts are as vulnerable as any OFC nodes.

Having geosationary sats over your own territory will prevent them from being targetted by the PLA while any ground system can be hit by PLAAF.

Satellites need supporting ground stations that can be hit by the PLAAF. These ground stations will need to be connected by OFC too.

Once Chinese interceptors are neutralised, the sat can be moved to a new orbit to support advancing forces. That is far easier, faster, and more capable than setting up ground relays.

If ground relays are movable, then they provide as many advantages.

The US satellites in LEO and Polar orbits are capable of picking up cellular frequencies for ELINT operations. This is a capability any country can work for. So, a ground based OFC channel provides excellent and secure comm between the top brass as against a satellite based system.

Also, the fact that an OFC channel is unjammable helps a lot. This means a system like the Growler will not affect our air defence capability. A bunch of Growlers jams the entire communication bandwidth over a large area without compromising itself(awesome beast). I bet satellite comm is neutralized too. In this situation the OFC will be a blessing. Targets can be relayed back to headquarters without the fear of losing communications in that area.

 

[Armand2REP]

Don't understand what you are trying to convey.

Trying to convey the necessity of ComSats in a fluid modern war.

The network area is not dependent on satellites alone. Microwave network will provide the necessary information to commanders at all times even outside the area. Don't forget that this is mainly capturing radar information and storing it in a single location. A radar is not defined by borders. Even a battlefield radar can transfer data through UAVs into the AFNET. Currently India is on a UAV building spree.

Certainly a nice addition for an IADs, but it is still limited to line of sight to the network. It makes it hard for your AWACs and fighters operating outside LOS to transmit to the system. For example, if MKIs are conducting CAP on the
LoC and end up in pursuit of intruders, command will lose contact. If you plan on strikes into enemy territory, again the signal will be lost.

A radar is defined by its LOS, without ComSats, UAVs are defined by their LOS. You can't operate UAVs long distances without a satallite uplink. They can only transfer what they see as long as they are near the ground node or a relay platform to get it there. If you want to develop more capable UAVs, ComSats are a must.

Also, read up on this.
India Building A Military Satellite Reconnaissance System

We cannot be entirely sure what kind of recce system we already have in place. It was setup in 2007. So, a comm system is not far.

Also, this:

Official Website of Indian Army

This is from the Indian Army's official website.

Spy sats are nice, but it doesn't increase bandwidth. Glad to see IA is using com satellites but using foreign and domestic commercial assets aren't the answer for a war.

Actually, anything wireless is jammable. The OFC channel in 100% unjammable.

OFC is also immobile. I just had the funny picture in my head of Bhishma hauling FC cable down the battlefield, or MKI flown like a kite.

IN is too far and cannot be discussed for a few more years. They will be the last to become fully network centric.

But, not IAF, as I have already mentioned. Radars don't have boundaries.

Of course radars have boundaries, especially fixed ones.

You are talking about a different aspect in NCW. Also, Army is not ready yet.

Thats the aspect I have been talking about all along. You said India didn't need it.

Even satellites require ground receivers which are setup in the CP(Command Post). These posts are as vulnerable as any OFC nodes.

Satellite stations can be placed far from the front lines, ground nodes hooked up to the OFC cannot if they want to recieve the LOS transmission.

Satellites need supporting ground stations that can be hit by the PLAAF. These ground stations will need to be connected by OFC too.

PLAAF doesn't have the reach to hit a sat reciever backed thousands of kilometres from the nearest Chinese airbase. Ground nodes for the OFC will be LOS from the combat area, easy targets for PLAAF frontal aviation.

If ground relays are movable, then they provide as many advantages.

Certainly, but they also have less bandwidth, less transmission distance, larger logistics footprints, more environmental interference, more chains to weaken the signal and take longer to set up. That is for yesterdays war. Satellites and air relays are now and the future.

The US satellites in LEO and Polar orbits are capable of picking up cellular frequencies for ELINT operations. This is a capability any country can work for. So, a ground based OFC channel provides excellent and secure comm between the top brass as against a satellite based system.

Did I ever give the impression OFCs weren't important?

Also, the fact that an OFC channel is unjammable helps a lot. This means a system like the Growler will not affect our air defence capability. A bunch of Growlers jams the entire communication bandwidth over a large area without compromising itself(awesome beast). I bet satellite comm is neutralized too. In this situation the OFC will be a blessing. Targets can be relayed back to headquarters without the fear of losing communications in that area.

If Growlers come knocking on your door, they will launch JASSMs at your ground nodes first. Your command centres will be getting nothing but static by the time the Growlers come. EA-18Gs use INCAN for communication jamming which is only in the UHF band. Military SatComs operate in the EHF. That would be another reason to get the ComSats.

 

[Rage]

Only two years?? Network-centric warfare is all about bandwidth. How many digital com sats does the military have?

Plenty of recon satellites, but no dedicated military communication satellite yet. But that shouldn't be too difficult to remedy. INSAT has been described as the "largest domestic communication satellite system in the Asia-Pacific", after all.


...Although, adequate bandwith may be a problem. Despite having what has been called Asia-Pacific's "largest domestic communication satellite system", commercial service and cable operators in India warned of a shortfall in bandwidth in 2007, which would have adversely affected commercial services had the Government decided to allocate extra additional bandwith to terrestrial wireless service, Wimax, and be insufficient to sustain India’s growth.

Wrt the Navy, apparently, the speed of achieving "network-centricity" is based on (what I consider are currently speculative) news reports of the 'footprint' of the Navy's new com sat: deemed to have a 600-1,000 nautical mile range over the Indian Ocean, which would, in turn, allow the Navy to network all of its warships, submarines and aircraft with onshore operational centers. The satellite is only the first step in setting up the 'Sea Force', which is part of the Network Centric Operations (NCO) program for the Indian Navy, under which most of its assets at sea will be networked through this and other future dedicated satellites. The Network Centric Operations system, itself is being developed by the Indian Navy at a cost of around $1 billion. It will, ofcourse, also include the following- most of the groundwork for which has already been laid:

(1) An Interface unit, capable of receiving data from combat management systems on warships and submarines, through platform on-board radar and sonar systems.

(2) A Track Fusion Unit, generating fused tracks from inputs from CMS's and other information sources, and which will provide the navy with a Network Tactical Situation Picture.

(3) Data Link Units to provide seamless communication channels through V/UHF, SATCOM systems.

(4) And an NCO Core to carry out threat evaluation, mission planning and execute both defensive and offensive missions.

But the Indian Navy also ultimately wants to link even the long range missiles, radars, air defence systems on all sea-based assets to a central control room, which will take another six to seven years. It is only then, that they will have achieved true "Network Centric" capability.

Upto now, we've been relying on the 1-meter resolution Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) launched in 2001 for military purposes. Once the dedicated satellite comes up and the Armed services network their assets through it, the exchange of surface and air-operational pictures in real-time will become possible.

However, as with the Navy, the IAF in all likelihood, also plans to achieve something similar. In which case, it will probably take longer than aforementioned to achieve true "network centricity".

 

[p2prada]

Trying to convey the necessity of ComSats in a fluid modern war.

Well, COMSATS are coming. This year Air force will see its first dedicated military satellite launched. I guess March. More will follow. 2 years is a long time for a nation with a capable space infrastructure. In 2 year we will have a regional GPS installed too.

Certainly a nice addition for an IADs, but it is still limited to line of sight to the network. It makes it hard for your AWACs and fighters operating outside LOS to transmit to the system. For example, if MKIs are conducting CAP on the LoC and end up in pursuit of intruders, command will lose contact. If you plan on strikes into enemy territory, again the signal will be lost.

The MKIs will not get the entire picture and the MKIs will not deliver pictures to the AFNET. The AWACS will. Also, the MKIs will almost never go out of the network area. The network area exceeds the borders. MKIs carry radios with a range of 200 odd km, it is affected by LOS. So, IAF fighters are trained to fight without verbal comm. We are not at the same level as the USAF. In this caee the AWACS helps.

A radar is defined by its LOS, without ComSats, UAVs are defined by their LOS. You can't operate UAVs long distances without a satallite uplink. They can only transfer what they see as long as they are near the ground node or a relay platform to get it there. If you want to develop more capable UAVs, ComSats are a must.

I agree with you and they are coming.

Spy sats are nice, but it doesn't increase bandwidth. Glad to see IA is using com satellites but using foreign and domestic commercial assets aren't the answer for a war.

My point was we do not know what kind of system we already have in place. According to Indian laws and international laws, ISRO CANNOT help the Indian military in anyway possible, which includes launching satellites. So, any kind of deal has to be kept under wraps. We are open about it now only because of lesser pressure. Analysts since after the Pokhran tests and since early 2000s have always said Indian satellites being launched are dual use satellites. This way ISRO can always say the satellites are for DTH networks while a large part of it may be dedicated to the military.

Eg: For some reason we have the largest constellation of satellites for civilian use in the world for remote sensing. Why?? Beats me.

OFC is also immobile. I just had the funny picture in my head of Bhishma hauling FC cable down the battlefield, or MKI flown like a kite.

OFC is immobile and unseen.

Of course radars have boundaries, especially fixed ones.

The range of radars always cross the borders. We have soft borders. Meaning all our enemies are next to us.

Thats the aspect I have been talking about all along. You said India didn't need it.

This thread is dedicated to the air force and not the army. So, start a new thread. Next you will say soldiers will be plugged to wires.

Satellite stations can be placed far from the front lines, ground nodes hooked up to the OFC cannot if they want to recieve the LOS transmission.

The OFC stations will be as far away too. The OFC nodes are too tiny to be targeted. The repeaters should be smaller than your arm. The OFC itself is tiny too.

PLAAF doesn't have the reach to hit a sat reciever backed thousands of kilometres from the nearest Chinese airbase. Ground nodes for the OFC will be LOS from the combat area, easy targets for PLAAF frontal aviation.

But, satellites themselves can be targeted. They have proved it too.

Certainly, but they also have less bandwidth, less transmission distance, larger logistics footprints, more environmental interference, more chains to weaken the signal and take longer to set up. That is for yesterdays war. Satellites and air relays are now and the future.

I will not deny that. But, don't place too much hopes on satellites too.

Did I ever give the impression OFCs weren't important?

Yes, and that is what started the discussion. When the article stated 2 years to setup network centricity using OFC as the backbone you questioned the reliability of such a claim. The Airforce will get their Link22 type data link from Israel by 2012 to finish it. Sat comms are coming in that period.

If Growlers come knocking on your door, they will launch JASSMs at your ground nodes first. Your command centres will be getting nothing but static by the time the Growlers come. EA-18Gs use INCAN for communication jamming which is only in the UHF band. Military SatComs operate in the EHF. That would be another reason to get the ComSats.

Ground nodes are too small to be a target, the radar itself would be a better target if the Growlers managed to get that close, crossing SAM systems, Point defence fighters etc. Growlers are electronic attack, not stealth.
Still the point being, the jamming will not affect communications between command centres which is very important.

INCANS is not the one that does the jamming. The jammer does it. The INCANS is meant to carry voice signals over the jamming. It is a safety feature.

Also, Mil satcoms operate in C band, S and Ku band, maybe more. Satellite jamming is not difficult.

Iran jamming satellite signals from U.S. and British broadcasts

Iran jamming satellite signals from U.S. and British broadcasts

Anything wireless can be jammed to a decent extent.

 

[RPK]

India's spy in the sky by 2014

India's spy in the sky by 2014

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_india-s-spy-in-the-sky-by-2014_1345753

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing the country’s first full-fledged ‘declared’ spy satellite, which will be operational by 2014 to keep an eye on neighbouring regions. The satellite is expected to significantly help in maintaining a close watch on terror camps close to Indian borders.

The satellite, called Communication-Centric Intelligence Satellite
(CCI-Sat), will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) within the next four years.

The CCI-Sat will be capable of picking images and supporting communication (conversation between two satellite phones, for instance), besides surveillance. The project is currently in the initial stages of planning.

G Bhoopathy, director, Defence Electronic Research Laboratory, said the satellite would orbit Earth at an altitude of 500km, and would cover hostile regions in India’s neighbourhood by passing on the surveillance data to the intelligence. “The focus is now space; we have to equip ourselves for electronic warfare from space, too,” he said.

The satellite will be equipped with a synthetic aperture radar to take high resolution images of the target regions. Pegged at Rs100 crore, the satellite design and development will be made by Isro while the payload will be built by DLRL.

“We are in discussions with Isro at the moment,” Bhoopathy said.
Unofficially, India in October 2001 has already entered the league of nations having spy satellites - USA, Russia, Japan and Russia - with the launch of the Technology Experiment Satellite (TES). In fact, TES provided the first one-metre resolution images of Afghanistan’s interior regions on US’s request as intelligence inputs when US troops entered that country post-9/11.

Besides TES, Isro’s Cartosat series of satellites and the Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT)-2 can also be used for surveillance and espionage. However, CCI-Sat will be the first 100% spy satellite of India. “This satellite will be much better than Risat-2,” Bhoopathy said.

Isro is also planning to launch the Gsat-7 satellite to boost communication system for the Indian Navy. This would be launched later this year.

 

[StealthSniper]

Good news for India, having an intelligence gathering satellite can be a game changer when it comes to war or for other covert operations. Hopefully for India this will be the first of many and I gotta say that ISRO has been doing a remarkable job and I hope they only get better.

 

[Dark_Prince]

India develops electronic intelligence tech for surveillance

India has developed a new generation satellite-fitted electronic intelligence system for surveillance applications to keep an eye on hostile neighbours, key defence officials said today.

The system has been developed by Hyderabad-based Defence Electronics and Research Laboratory (DLRL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, sources told PTI.

A DRDO source termed a satellite fitted with this system as a "spy satellite". The electronic intelligence system on board a satellite takes images of "resources" of hostile countries as it passes over them from the space, they said.

According to sources, select countries such as the US, France and China are already using such type of system. India also has now designed, integrated and tested such a system.

DRDO is already in discussion with Bangalore-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation in this regard, and the payload to be flown in one of the low earth observation satellites is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Director of Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) U K Revankar said the DRDO lab has developed new electronic warfare system for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and it would be tested shortly.

Defence scientists are also working on technologies to intercept and jam network of satellite phones. "That project is going on. Within a year, it will be ready," an official said.

India has also developed a "penetration aid" that allows its aircraft to penetrate into enemy territory "without being identified by any of the radars," sources said.

As part of counter-measures against hostile missiles, a consortium comprising of Bharat Electronics Limited, DLRL, DARE and Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) has been formed to develop systems to divert missiles from various platforms.

"There are a large number of helicopters which require radar warning receivers and also missile approach warning system for helicopters," a defence official said.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/india-develops-electronic-intelligence-tech-for-surveillance/85331/on
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[MistaV]

Indian eye in sky developed

NEW DELHI, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Bent on boosting its military intelligence, India is set to develop a new, cutting-edge surveillance satellite.

The spy craft, called the Communication Centric Intelligence Satellite is expected to be launched into orbit in 2014, keeping a close watch on hot spots in the troubled neighborhood.

CCI-Sat is part of a high-priority plan to develop electronic warfare systems for India's army, navy and air force, G Boopathy, director of the Defense Electronic Research Laboratory, was quoted telling local media.

The laboratory is developing the $25 million satellite and Boopathy said the project was still in its initial phases of planning.

"The focus now, is space; we have to equip ourselves for electronic warfare from space, too," he said.

Beyond surveillance, CCI-Sat is capable of picking up images, even conversations, between satellite phones.

The satellite is expected to orbit Earth at an altitude of 300 miles and keep watch on hostile regions in India's region by passing on surveillance data to intelligence command-and-control centers.

The Hindu newspaper reported the satellite will be fitted with electronic sensors that are more powerful than the Indian Space Research Organization's remote-sensing satellites.

It said the electronic warfare sensor would be "located on on the mountain range facing Pakistan, China, Nepal and the northeast part of the country, to detect troop or vehicular movement across the borders."

Only a select number of countries, including the United States, France and China, are using such electronic spy satellites.

While the payload will be built by India's Defense Electronic Research Laboratory, the satellite's design and development will be made by the country's space research organization.

India is poised to put an other two military Cartosat-2B satellites in orbit in the coming months. Both will also be used for military purposes.

Last year, India launched its generic RISAT-2 military satellite, which is keeping a high-resolution eye on the country's borders and coastline to watch for terrorist infiltration, Defense News reported.

Meantime, the director of Defense Avionics Research Establishment revealed that new electronic warfare technology has been developed for light aircraft and that the system was set to be tested imminently.

Defense scientists told local media that India was focusing research on technologies to intercept and jam satellite phone networks.

"That project is going on," an unnamed official was quoted as saying. "Within a year, it will be ready."

Among other developments, officials said a "penetration aid," that allows Indian military aircraft to penetrate enemy territory without being identified by surrounding radar.

 

[Daredevil]

Cartosat 2B launch

ISRO to launch Cartosat-2B on May 9

BANGALORE: India's advanced, high-resolution remote-sensing satellite Cartosat-2B would be launched on May 9 at 9.23 am from Sriharikota spaceport, ISRO said today.

"It will be launched at 9.23 am on May 9 by PSLV-C15," Indian Space Research Organisation spokesperson S Satish told PTI.

The highly agile satellite is expected to give a boost to the tasks of infrastructure and urban planning. The on-board camera would provide scene specific spot imageries for cartographic and a host of other civilian applications.

Satish said the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would carry onboard four more satellites along with the Cartosat-2B -- an Algerian satellite weighing 117 kg, one nano satellite each from Canada and Switzerland, and StudSat, a pico satellite (under one KG) developed by engineering students from Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Weighing around 700 kg, Cartosat-2B is designed for an operational life of five years and would give pictures of 0.8 metre resolution.

Meanwhile, ISRO has constituted a failure analysis committee to probe the recent failure of the GSLV-D3 mission whose main objective was to flight-test the indigenous cryogenic engine and stage for the first time.

S Ramakrishnan, ISRO's Director (Projects) at Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, would chair the committee, which has been asked to submit the report within two months, sources in the space agency said.

The national panel of experts which included former chairmen of ISRO and eminent personalities, would then look into the report and the recommended corrective measures. This panel, after a thorough review, had given the go-ahead for the GSLV-D3 mission.

 

[Daredevil]

PSLV-C15 launch rescheduled

Bangalore, Apr 29 (PTI) The ISRO today said it has rescheduled the May 9 launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15), that was to put into space the country's advanced, high-resolution remote-sensing spacecraft Cartosat-2B and four other satellites.

"A marginal drop in the pressure in the second stage of the vehicle was noticed during mandatory checks carried out on the PSLV-C15 vehicle," the Bangalore-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here.

"The new date for the launch of PSLV-C15 mission will be decided after preliminary results of the analysis are obtained," it said.

The launch was slated for May 9 at 9.23 am from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.

Apart from Cartosat-2B, PSLV-C15 is planned to launch an Algerian satellite ALSAT-2A, two nano satellites NLS 6.1 and NLS 6.

 

[nandu]

Indian satellite launch postponed to June

CHENNAI: The Indian space agency is likely to launch its rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15), carrying its cartography satellite Cartosat-2B and couple of other payloads, sometime in June.

Originally scheduled for launch May 9, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Thursday decided to postpone the flight to a future date as it found "a marginal drop in the pressure in the second stage of the vehicle during mandatory checks".

A source in ISRO told IANS: "The faulty part is in an inaccessible area as the rocket stages have been fully assembled. The second stage has to be dismantled to spot and correct the fault."

According to the source, the rocket is almost ready except for the loading of the satellites that have arrived at the launch centre in Sriharikota, around 80 km from here.

"The leak was not found during the earlier tests before the stages were integrated," the source told IANS.

The dismantling will be done from the top which involves - removal of the electronics assembly, fourth and third stages - so as take away the second stage.

The fault will be rectified at Sriharikota launch centre or if need be taken to ISRO's centre in Trivandrum which, the official said, is a remote possibility.

The 44 metre tall PSLV is a four stage (engine) rocket powered by solid and liquid propellants alternatively.

The first and third stages are fired by solid propellant and the second and fourth stages are fired by liquid propellant.

According to ISRO officials, the solid fuel stages are cast ready while the liquid fuel - Unsymmetrical Di-Methyl Hydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and Nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) as oxidiser - measuring around 41 tonne, will be filled hours before the blast off.

Testing of the stage sub-systems will be done with nitrogen and helium gas, explained an ISRO official.

"With the help of these gases, we will test the integrity of the stage. Compared to the solid stage the liquid stage has more intricacies. It has various sub-systems, valves, turbines, regulators and other complex systems which have to be tested on ground."

Though the pressure drop was marginal, ISRO decided to postpone the flight of its successful rocket as it does not want to risk another failure in quick succession.

It may be recalled that ISRO's heavier rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) went down into the sea April 15 as its own cryogenic engine was not able to sustain combustion beyond one second as one of its turbo pumps was not able to function continuously.

Further, PSLV has been the revenue earner for ISRO, launching third party satellites and a failure would have a reputation issue which in turn would impact a lucrative revenue stream.

PSLV this time is slated to ferry an Algerian Alsat communication satellite weighing 117 kg for a fee. The rocket will also carry two nano satellites - one each from Canada and Switzerland - a pico satellite StudSat (under one kg) developed by college students in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

However, the main cargo of the rocket is the Cartosat-2B 690-kg satellite, which will carry a sophisticated panchromatic camera on board to take higher (0.8 metre) spatial resolution imageries with a swath of 9.6 km of specific spots for cartographic applications such as mapping, land information and geographical information system.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...nch-postponed-to-June/articleshow/5875446.cms

 

[Rahul92]

India Launches $200M TECSAR Spy Satellite

The April 20/09 launch of the RISAT-2 satellite gives India the ability to monitor cross-border movements of suspected terrorists, as well as troop movements in Pakistan and other neighboring countries, at night and under all weather conditions. The satellite was reportedly a modified TECSAR satellite, purchased from Israel Aerospace Industries for $200 million. Indian sources state that the satellite launch was accelerated after the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai.
The 300 kg/ 660 pound TECSAR's military X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides up to 1 meter radar resolution was carried into low earth orbit aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C-12) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center located on the barrier island of Sriharikota in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The PSLV-C-12 also carried the 40 kg/ 88 pound experimental communication ANUSAT satellite built by Chennai-based Anna University.
The satellite purchase marks a growing military relationship between India and Israel"¦
In January of 2008, India reportedly launched a TECSAR satellite for Israel aboard a PSLV-C-12 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Center. Israel has used its own "Shavit" rocket for other launches, but working with India widens Israel's placement and payload options by avoiding the necessity of launching westwards, against the rotation of the earth. By turning to India, Israel is able to launch a satellite into polar orbit; a defense analyst told AFP news agency that this orbit that provides Israel with the ability to monitor Iran's nuclear progra.
On India's side of the fence, its government has been building a number of satellites with dual-use capabilities, but reported problems with Cartosat-2, and expanding coverage needs, apparently made existing options unsatisfactory. India's response was to delay the civilian RISAT-1 satellite, in order to make way for RISAT-2.
The PSLV-C-12 rocket experienced launch postponements, and the April 20/09 launch had its own drama. Despite that, the rocket lifted off into orbit from Sriharikota spaceport as scheduled. RISAT-2 will fly in a sun-synchronous orbit, at 550 km altitude, for use in a number of roles including civilian disaster and recovery monitoring. It is expected to last for 3 years.
The Indian-developed RISAT-1, which also uses SAR technology, will follow in a subsequent launch. It is designed for agricultural monitoring in the civilian C-band, flying at 608 km above the earth. Its dedicated missions will include time-lapse coverage of the Kharif crop, the important autumn harvest in India and Pakistan.

 

[Armand2REP]

Absolutely India needs spy satellites... probably more than any country on earth. With so many hostile borders it is a must.

 

[sayareakd]

It is old news so why post now this has been discuss earlier ???

 

[Yusuf]

Rahul, please look around the forum. All this has been discussed before. What looks new and fascinating for you is something people eat and sleep over here day in day out.

 

[ejazr]

RISAT-1 launch next year; to boost all weather surveillance

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...to-boost-all-weather-surveillance/445055.html

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) India's earth observation capabilities are set to get a boost with the launch of indigenously-developed RISAT-1 early next year.The satellite will be launched in the first half of the next year, ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan said today while delivering the IGNOU silver jubilee lecture here, adding RISAT-1 will be a "major milestone" for the country and a boon for regions perennially under cloud cover.The satellite's all weather capability to take images of the earth could also be used to keep an eye on the country's borders round-the-clock and to help in anti-terrorist and anti-infiltration operations.Radhakrishnan said that the Indian Remote Sensing satellites operate in the visible infrared spectrum and cannot see the earth through cloud cover.The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), being developed indigenously by ISRO, has the capability to take pictures of the earth 24 hours-a-day, through rain and cloud, thus boosting the country's disaster response capabilities.India had jointly developed RISAT-2 with Israel and launched the satellite in April last year. It would also be beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, besides amplifying defence surveillance capabilities. It would also help keep track of ships at seat that could pose a threat.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

RISAT : India's Intelligence Satellite in Orbit

RISAT : India's Intelligence Satellite in Orbit

Giving a big boost to its defence surveillance capabilities, India on April 20, 2009 successfully launched an all-weather Israel-built spy satellite that will help security agencies to keep a vigil on the country's borders. ISRO's workhorse, PSLV-C12 rocket, soared from the spaceport in Sriharikota and placed its first Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) into orbit.

The 300 kg RISAT-2 will primarily keep an eye on the country's borders round the clock and help in anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. It will enable India to keep a watch on terror camps, military installations across boundaries, missile sites and such like. However, RISAT is not India's first spy satellite. The Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) has been used for photo reconnaissance since 2001.

Technical Wizardry::

RISAT can detect objects three-foot long or less.
India has become second country in the world after the U.S.A. that can offer images with one meter resolution.
RISAT-2 can be used for the mapping industry and geographical information services.
The Earth viewing satellites built and launched hitherto by India have depended on picking up light coming from the ground below. These Indian satellites cannot work at night or when clouds block visibility. Putting a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a satellite overcomes these problems and enables it to capture images irrespective of weather and lighting conditions. This remote sensing advanced imaging spy satellite (RISAT) has been positioned 550 km above the Earth. This satellite has good applications in the fields of disaster management and in managing cyclones, floods and agriculture-related activities. However, RISAT will primarily be used for defence and surveillance. Significance of this satellite is its all weather capability, day and night. It is likely to be placed under the Aerospace command.

Different from previous remote sensing satellites, RISAT -II uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas, to receive signals that could be processed into high resolution pictures.

Spy Satellites in the World:
A spy satellite (officially referred to as a reconnaissance satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. These are essentially space telescopes that are pointed towards the Earth instead of towards the stars. On March 16, 1955, the United States Air Force ordered the development of an advanced reconnaissance satellite to provide surveillance of pre selected areas of Earth in order to determine the status of a potential enemy's war-making capability.

Spy Satellites of different countries of the world-

Egypt - Egypt Satellite-1
France - Helios-lB (destroyed), Helios-2A
Germany (SAR Lupe) - SAR-Lupe-1, SAR-Lupe-2, SAR-Lupe-3, SAR-Lupe-4, SAR-Lupe-5
India - Cartosat-2A (Technology Experiment Satellite - Launched April 28, 2008), RISAT-2 (Launched April 20, 2009)
Iran - Sinah-1, Omid (Launched on February 2, 2009)
Israel - Ofeq, TecSAR
Italy - COSMO-Sky Med
Japan - Information Gathering Satellite
People's Republic of China - Fanhui Shi Weixing (FSW-0, FSW-l, FSW-2, FSW-3)
Russia/Soviet Union - Persona, Resurs DK, Cosmos, RORSAT (under cover of Cosmos series). Radar type powered by Topaz nuclear reactors, Almaz, Yantar, Zenit
South Korea - Arirang-2
United States - Naval ELINT (GRAB, Poppy, Naval' Ocean Surveillance System), SamosF, Molniya SIGINT (Jumpseat, Trumpet), Geosynchronous SIGINT (Rhyolite/Aquacade, Magnum/Orion, Mentor), Air Force Geosynchronous SIGINT (Canyon, Vortex / Chalet, Mercury), Lacrosse / Onyx (RADINT), Misty / Zirconic, Quasar, Vela, Key Hole (KH) series of imaging satellites.
Since 1959, United States has launched 22 spy satellites.

Fallout on neighboring Countries: India is surging ahead as a powerhouse of advanced space technology. Earlier experiments and investments opened up opportunities. The modernization of space technologies enhanced Indian capabilities in space research and profoundly influenced the South Asian strategic balance. Since 1980, India achieved ballistic missile superiority by developing its Integrated Guided Missile Programme (IGMP), which was followed by the satellite programme, anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, Prithvi and Agni missiles and now Spy Satellite.

2009 proved to be a significant milestone for the Indian space programme. It has brought a significant lead for India which launched the Spy Satellite, RISA T. This venture introduced a new era in satellite technology development. After the launch of this military intelligence satellite, India could boost its intelligence extensively against cross border terrorism and it will keep the entire region under India's watch. Indeed, during both war and peace, intelligence satellites prove supremely useful as non-aggressive and non-invasive tools to monitor enemy troop-movements, military manoeuvres airbases and air strength.

India certainly intends to eclipse Pakistan and it has stepped into space technology in a big way. India is certainly going to take further measures to counter the growing cross-border terrorism as India's economic fortunes are set to attain higher dividends. The Indian militarization of outer space will certainly raise questions and concerns for Pakistan.

With its military surveillance and reconnaissance system India would be able to undermine Pakistan's deterrence and could threaten Pakistan's defence. The Indian pursuit of the arms race in outer space destabilizes the strategic balance in the South Asian Region, which will propel neighboring states to boost and explore their own technological capabilities. Indian power play, in space and with regard to military spy satellite in orbit, threatens to turn space into a new sphere of military rivalry and a race towards the application of advanced technologies

 

[Virendra]

After listing so many countries spy satellites, I don't know why the author picked only India for his paranoia
Why is it that only Indian designs destabilize the so called strategic balance in South Asian region and not the Chinese or any other?
Does his definition of south asian strategic balance include only his own country's position ?