RISAT-2B
Category: Sc/tech
- PSLV rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) placed RISAT-2B.
- RISAT-2B is an X-band microwave earth observation satellite.
- It is into orbit 556 km above earth.
- Data from the satellite would be vital for the Armed Forces, agriculture forecasters and disaster relief agencies.
- It was launched by the PSLV-C46.
- RISAT weighs 615-kg.
- Its X-band synthetic aperture radar can give added details such as the size of objects on earth, structures and movement.
- Information from RISAT-2B will complement data from normal optical remote sensing satellites. Such data are useful for agencies that need ground images during cloud, rain and in the dark.
- This is the third Indian RISAT in 10 years, and follows the Israeli-built RISAT-2 in 2009 and the ISRO-built RISAT-1 in 2012.
- The older RISATs have reached the end of their lives.
Crested Ibises
Category: Environment
- An endangered bird, Nipponianippon, was reintroduced to the wild by South Korean authorities, four decades after it went extinct on the peninsula.
- China and Japan are also part of the species’ natural range.
- The species was driven to the edge of extinction partially because pesticide use eliminated its food sources.
- The species bird is also known as the Japanese crested ibis.
