ISRO launches EOS-05 imaging satellite into geo-orbit
ISRO successfully launched the 2,367-kg EOS-05 imaging satellite aboard GSLV-F17 from Sriharikota on Friday. The mission marked India’s first dedicated geo-orbit imaging satellite and ISRO’s first successful launch of 2026 after earlier setbacks
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): ISRO on Friday made its way into the history books yet again with the successful launch of the country’s first-ever imaging satellite in geo-orbit, placing the over-2,300-kg payload into a precise orbit using a GSLV rocket.
Friday’s launch marked the space agency’s maiden success of 2026.
The EOS-05 satellite was successfully placed in the intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes after it lifted off from the spaceport here, ISRO announced.
While several Earth observation satellites operate from low Earth orbit (LEO), the EOS-05 satellite is set to hover at an altitude of roughly 36,000 km above Earth, which is the geosynchronous orbit. At that level, the satellite will match Earth’s rotational speed.
At over 2,300 kg, this is the heaviest satellite ever to be carried by a GSLV, and the satellite was successfully placed in its intended trajectory.
“The eye in the sky,” as one of the senior scientists involved in the mission described the satellite, is set to provide real-time imagery and help the nation in areas including agriculture and disaster management.
The mission’s success, following some earlier failures, was apparently a morale booster.
A beaming ISRO chief V Narayanan said: “I am very happy to announce that the GSLV F-17 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the advanced EOS-05 geo-imaging satellite in the intended and required orbit.”
“This is the 107th launch from Sriharikota and the 19th mission of GSLV,” the Secretary, Department of Space, flanked by key scientists involved in the mission, said soon after the launch.
He recalled that the first launch of GSLV (D1) was done with a payload of 1,536 kg and since then, ISRO had gradually improved the performance of GSLV by optimising the structural mass and improving the propulsion systems.
“Today, we have injected the heaviest satellite, 2,367 kg, using this launch vehicle.” Once EOS-05 is operationalised in orbit, it will become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite from geo-orbit, providing “strategic data” for the country, he said.
Quoting satellite data, he confirmed that all the systems were operating perfectly well and that the solar panel had been successfully deployed. “The health of the satellite is perfectly alright,” he said.
“This is a great achievement for our country’s space programme because this is the first EOS that will be placed on the geo platform for national activities.” In the days to come, orbit-raising manoeuvring will be carried out and the satellite will be elevated to the required orbit and placed in the geo platform, he said, adding that the success was the culmination of the teamwork of ISRO and its industrial partners.
Mission Director Thomas Kurien said the mission carried a uniquely configured EOS capable of near-real-time imaging. “It is the heaviest satellite ever launched by GSLV into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit,” he added.
Project Director (Satellite) Imteyaz Ahamad described EOS-05 as a unique, one-of-a-kind satellite with multi-band operating capabilities. “It is a complex satellite in terms of configuration, content and capability.”
Earlier, at the end of a smooth 27-hour countdown, which commenced at 23.30 hours on Wednesday, the rocket began its ascent on the dot at 2.55 am from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The odd hour and rain could not deter the enthusiasm of members of the public, as many, armed with umbrellas, turned up in good numbers to cheer the launch.
The three-stage, 51.7-metre Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV), with its third stage being cryogenic, has a lift-off mass of 420.5 tonnes, and the heavy satellite is ensconced in the rocket’s nose cone.
The GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission is said to be a replacement for the unsuccessful GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission of 2021.
An onboard computer had aborted that mission at 307 seconds into the flight. A probe into the post-flight data indicated that an anomaly in the Cryogenic Upper Stage had led to the mission failure, according to ISRO.
The pre-dawn launch on Friday follows a gap of nearly eight months and brings ISRO its first success of the year.
On January 12, ISRO’s PSLV-C62 rocket, carrying 16 satellites, failed to place them in the intended orbit after encountering an “anomaly” in the critical third stage of the launch.
Days ago, ISRO chairman V Narayanan visited the Tirumala Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara Swamy temple and prayed for the mission’s success.
