ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has successfully launched the earth observation satellite Resourcesat-2A at Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR) or Satish Dawan Space Research (SDSR) in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C36 placed the 1235kg of Resourcesat-2A into an 817km Polar Sun Synchronised Orbit (SSO). PSLV-C36 was the First Launch Pad, and the XL version of this satellite was used with six solid strap-on motors.

“Today we had a successful launch of Resourcesat-2A to provide three-tier imaging data. The satellite’s solar panels were deployed. The launch was perfect,” said by the A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) soon after the launch.

He also added, for the first time a camera which was put on the rocket and as a result of that the launch of the satellite and deployment of solar panels were seen. After checking the Real-time simulation and data transmission the satellite was switched in the space on Wednesday. The 36-hour countdown for launching the rocket was begun at 10.25 pm on 5th December 2016.

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“This is the ninth launch this year. The launch operations for GSLV MK-III started,” said Satish Dhawan Space Centre director P Kunhikrishnan.

According to the reports, Resourcesat-2A is the successor of Resourcesat-1 and Resourcesat-2 which were launched in the year 2003 and 2011 respectively. The newly launched Resourcesat-2A is intended to continue the remote sensing data services to the global users which have provided by its predecessors.

As of its previous Resourcesat’s the Resourceat-2A also carries the similar three payloads. The high-resolution Linear Imaging Self Scanner Camera (LISS-4) which uses three spectral bands in Visible and Near Infrared Region (VNIR) can be steerable upto 26 degrees across the track to achieve the five-day revisit capability. The mission life of this Resourcesat-2A is five years as per the ISRO reports.