CartoSat 2A is the primary Indian remote sensing craft among the fleet of 10 satellites that were launched by a PSLV 9 rocket from Sriharikota in southeastern coast of India at 03:54 UT on 28 April 2008. The 690 kg, 900 W, triaxially stabilized craft carries a panchromatic camera to provide 0.5-0.85 micron images at one meter resolution in a swath of 9.6 km. It can be steered along track as well as across track to enable repeated images of a chosen site, frequently. The images will be used in rural and urban planning.