India’s first ‘Eye in the Sky’ returns to Earth after completing its sentinel job for over a decade.

In order to keep its borders and seas secure, India launched its first dedicated “spy” or reconnaissance satellite, ISRO’s radar-imaging RISAT-2, soon after the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Its images were also used for launching surgical strikes twice in Pakistan. On October 30, RISAT-2 re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and splashed in the Indian Ocean near Jakarta.

For an initial design life of four years, RISAT-2 carried 30 kg of fuel. However, despite being designed for only four years, it served its function for 13.5 years, contributing significantly to various counterterrorism and anti-infiltration operations.

Risat-2 played a key role in several anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations for 13.5 years and performed its duty much beyond its expected lifespan. Images from the satellite helped security and intelligence agencies plan a surgical strike in 2016 on terror launchpads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and Balakot aerial strike in February 2019.

The launch of Risat-2 was accelerated following the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008 due to the delay in the indigenously-developed C-band for Risat-1 satellite. That is why Risat-2 was launched in 2009 three years ahead of Risat-1 launch in 2012. It was also used to track hostile ships on the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea that were deemed a security threat.

The satellite was also used in rescue missions. It was used to locate the wreckage of the helicopter crash that claimed the life of the then Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on September 2, 2009.

Image source: Wikipedia