ISRO successfully returned to space, placing EOS-05 into orbit.
ISRO roared back into action early Friday morning, successfully launching the GSLV-F17 rocket from Sriharikota and placing the EOS-05 satellite into space. This triumphant liftoff at 2:55 am IST from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre ended an eight-month operational pause for the space agency following a previous mission setback in January. Known affectionately as the "smart boy," the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle completed its 19th flight by precisely injecting the spacecraft into its intended orbit just over 18 minutes after clearing the tower.
Odisha, with its extensive coastline frequently vulnerable to severe weather, stands to benefit significantly from this advanced monitoring capability. "Today, we have injected the heaviest satellite using GSLV. Once operationalised, it will be India's first dedicated imaging satellite from geo orbit, providing important strategic data for the country," ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan stated after the successful deployment.
Unlike conventional remote-sensing satellites that only pass over specific regions periodically from a few hundred kilometres up, EOS-05 (also known as GISAT-1A) operates from a geosynchronous orbit approximately 36,000 kilometres above Earth. This remarkable vantage point enables the spacecraft to maintain continuous observation over large geographical areas without needing to wait for a subsequent flyover. Such persistent monitoring capability is crucial for managing rapidly evolving situations, including cyclones, floods, and forest fires, allowing disaster-management teams to track developments continuously rather than relying on delayed snapshots.
This successful mission marks India's initial major step toward geosynchronous Earth imaging, particularly following the unsuccessful attempt to orbit the earlier GISAT-1 spacecraft in August 2021. Beyond natural disaster management, the new satellite will significantly enhance national strategic surveillance capabilities, offering valuable continuous data for border monitoring, agricultural assessment, and environmental observation across the subcontinent.
