9 November 2008
New Satellite
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed a new satellite that could take images through the clouds, enabling space-based application in such scenarios to manage cyclones, floods and agriculture related activities .India’s current earth-observation satellites are working in visible and infrared bands, which means they can take pictures only when its cloud-free. ‘Often, during cyclones and floods the entire sky will be clouded. To see through the cloud, the new Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) will be important. According to ISRO officials, RISAT mission would have a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, operating in a multi-polarization and multi-resolution mode. SAR, an active sensor, operated in the microwave range of electromagnetic spectrum, provides the target parameters such as dielectric constant, roughness and geometry. With its unique capability for day-night imaging and in all weather conditions, including fog and haze, provides information on soil moisture.