India launches satellite

SRIHARIKOTA, India, April 20 (UPI) -- India successfully launched a radar imaging satellite Monday, the country's space agency said.

The Indian Space Research Organization fired the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket carrying the RISAT-2 satellite from its facility at Sriharikota, The Times of India reported.

Citing informed sources, the newspaper said the satellite's day-night capability, and its ability to look through clouds and fog, gives it defense applications. However, organization chief G. Madhavan Nair rejected the notion the satellite will be used for spying, the newspaper said.

"This is an imaging satellite that can identify features on ground," Nair told reporters after the launch. "There is nothing as a spy satellite. Though the satellite has a global coverage we will use it only for our use."

The rocket also carried into orbit a micro-educational satellite Anusat built by Anna University.