Article Posted on : - May 04, 2012

An artistic presentation of RISAT-1 satellite. Photo: ISRO

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indigenously built RISAT-1 satellite launched on April 26 is capable of imaging even without sunlight and could penetrate through clouds, the Rajya Sabha was informed.

The Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) has cloud penetrating capability and also can image during day and night as well as all weather conditions, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy said during Question Hour on Thursday.

"This facilitates cloud penetration and imaging even without sunlight," he said adding for RISAT-1, imaging sessions around both 6 am and 6 pm are chosen.

The country's first indigenously designed microwave imaging satellite RISAT-1 was launched by Indian Space Research Organisation onboard India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV C-19 from Sriharikota.

The perfect launch of the satellite catapulted India into a select band of countries having indigenous radar imaging technology.

Lauding India scientists for the launch, Narayanasamy said they are "second to no one in the world."